Recorded June 30th. On this special edition of 1+1 I was honored to speak to returning champion Ann Garrison a frequent contributor to Black Agenda Report which is news, commentary, analysis from a Black Left Perspective, on The Congo/Zaire's independence day, Ann and I spoke about Congolese history and current affairs and how Rwanda under ethnonationalist Paul Kagame, how his bloody conquest in Congo has been a front for Western imperialism.
During the conversation talks of how quickly after the Congo is given independence from Belgium, Belgium and the US and their allies quickly went onto to destabilize the country by supporting a secessionist movement in what was called Katanga, the West later supported a coup against Lumumba that led to the rise of the autocratic leadership of Mobutu, Ann talks about his legacy, followed by the rise of Paul Kagame a Western backed stooge of the Tutsi tribe from Rwanda. Ann gives us a deep dive into the Tutsi-Hutu power dynamic that existed in Rwanda and how Tutsi exiles like Paul Kagame backed by Uganda's Yoweri Museveni invaded Rwanda. And everything you think you know about the Rwanda Genocide is wrong. We discuss how it was Paul Kagame who murdered the Rwandan and Burundian president, and his RPF committed mass atrocities towards Hutus and Tutsis who didn't want to subscribe to his ethnonationalism. From there Rwanda under Kagame continued to attack people fleeing his violence and resisting him in Congo where he later backed a coup against Mobutu and with Western backing installed Laurent Kabila. After Kabila wanted Rwandan forces out of Congo, he was murdered and since then Rwandan forces have been looting Eastern Congo/Kivu region of his mineral wealth with Western blessing and Kabila's son Joseph Kabila, we look at his legacy and the rise of Félix Tshisekedi who hasn't evicted Rwanda from Congo, Ann explains why he hasn't and how he is most likely compromised as he wasn't really the winner of the last Congolese elections, and he and his cabinet have many conflicts of interests.
During the conversation we also discuss a recently thwarted coup that happened several weeks ago in Congo, and Ann explains who the perpetrators were. We discuss the rise of Denis Mukwege, a doctor on Congo who has helped victims of rape mostly from Eastern Congo but elsewhere at the hands of Rwandan and Rwandan proxy voices, and how he's increasingly been speaking out on Rwanda's evil impact on Congolese affairs which has been met with harassment, threats to his life, and other efforts to silence him but has remain steadfast and even ran for president of Congo but came in sixth place. other topics explored are China's role in mining and Ann's criticism of China's role in Congolese affairs, and if Congolese solidarity will be able to advance its noble agenda as many in that movement are trying to build solidarity with the large Palestine solidarity movement and make the connections that the injustice Western imperialism inflicts on Palestine happens in Congo, Sudan, and elsewhere.
all of this and more on this edition of 1+1. do enjoy and please share widely, and curious people's thoughts, and if you want to get in touch yourismouter@gmail or check me out on twitter, and for more on the topics explored please visit the following links
1. To check out Ann Garrison’s work and other great voices on Congo, Rwanda, African affairs and more please check out and donate generously to the following websites www.blackagendareport.com & blackagendareport.com/author/... & www.blackagendareport.com/aut...
- 2. Check out, subscribe, donate generously to, join if possible the Black Alliance for Peace and "Friends of congo" at these links blackallianceforpeace.com/#ho... & friendsofthecongo.org/
3. for more of Ann's work and how you can support her journalism - sfbayview.com/tag/ann-garrison/ & www.anngarrison.com/ & rescuepacifica.net/ann-garris... & / anniegetyourgang & / annmgarrison & www.gofundme.com/f/93ayn-inde... & / anngarrison
4. for more on the history of Congo and Rwanda check out this from Empire Files • The Empire Files: Empi... and my interview with Vrede . Be's Ludo De Brabander of Vrede.BE an anti-imperialist campaigner and journalist from Belgium on Belgium's ongoing dirty role in Congolese affairs and NATO and international relations - • 1+1 Ep 140 Youri speak... & Rwanda's Untold Story - MUST CREATE AN ACCOUNT in order to watch it, vimeo.com/107867605 and vimeo.com/108685984 and The Real News Network host Jaqueline Luqman speaks to Judi Rever on her book "In Praise of Blood" • The Rwanda Genocide's ...