Dancing in the Glory of Monsters: The Collapse of the Congo and the Great War of Africa

395 Pages·2012·2.72 MB·English

by  Jason Stearns

Table of Contents

Title Page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Acronyms
Introduction

PART I - PREWAR
Chapter 1 - THE LEGACY OF GENOCIDE
GISENYI, RWANDA, JULY 17, 1994
Chapter 2 - AIDING AND ABETTING
INERA REFUGEE CAMP, ZAIRE, OCTOBER 1994
Chapter 3 - A COUNTRY IN RUINS
KIGALI, RWANDA, JULY 1994–SEPTEMBER 1996
Chapter 4 - SIX DAYS
BUKAVU, ZAIRE, OCTOBER 8, 1996
Chapter 5 - ONION LAYERS
MUSHAKI, ZAIRE, AND KIGALI, RWANDA, OCTOBER 1993
Chapter 6 - MZEE
KIGALI, RWANDA, EARLY 1996; LUBUMBASHI, CONGO, 1960;
FIZI, CONGO, 1965–1980

PART II - THE FIRST WAR
Chapter 7 - MANY WARS IN ONE
KIRINGYE, LWEBA, AND ABALA, ZAIRE, AUGUST–OCTOBER
1996
Chapter 8 - THE DOMINOES FALL
BUKAVU, ZAIRE, OCTOBER 1996
Chapter 9 - A THOUSAND MILES THROUGH THE JUNGLE
BUKAVU, ZAIRE, OCTOBER 1996
Chapter 10 - THIS IS HOW YOU FIGHT
BUKAVU AND LEMERA, ZAIRE, OCTOBER 1996
Chapter 11 - A WOUNDED LEOPARD
KINSHASA, ZAIRE, DECEMBER 1996
Chapter 12 - THE KING IS DEAD; LONG LIVE THE KING
KINSHASA, CONGO, MAY 1997

PART III - THE SECOND WAR
Chapter 13 - ONE WAR TOO MANY
RUHENGERI, RWANDA, AND KINSHASA, CONGO, AUGUST 1998
Chapter 14 - THE REBEL PROFESSOR
KIGALI, RWANDA, AUGUST 1998
Chapter 15 - THE REBEL START-UP
GBADOLITE, CONGO, JULY 1999
Chapter 16 - CAIN AND ABEL
KISANGANI, CONGO, MAY 1999
Chapter 17 - SORCERERS’ APPRENTICES
EASTERN CONGO, JUNE 2000
Chapter 18 - THE ASSASSINATION OF MZEE
KINSHASA, CONGO, JANUARY 17, 2001
Chapter 19 - PAYING FOR THE WAR
GOMA, ZAIRE, NOVEMBER 1996

PART IV - NEITHER WAR NOR PEACE
Chapter 20 - THE BEARER OF EGGS
KINSHASA, CONGO, JANUARY 2001

Conclusion: The Congo, On Its Own Terms
Notes
Index
Copyright Page

For Lusungu
Acknowledgments
My thanks go to the many Congolese, Rwandans, Burundians, and Ugandans
who helped me write this book and whose names appear in these pages. They
were generous enough to sit with me for many hours and explain their
experiences. Others I could not name so as not to get them in trouble—you know
who you are, asanteni.
I owe a special debt to Kizito Mushizi, Raphael Wakenge, Christian Mukosa,
and their families, whose warm support since I first arrived in Bukavu made me
appreciate the complexities and beauty of their country. I am also grateful for the
help provided by Remy Ngabo, Gandy Rugemintore, Balzac Buzera, Pascal
Kambale, Willy Nindorera, Noel Atama, Adelar Mivumba, James Habyarimana,
Soraya Aziz, Tshivu Ntite, Thomas Ntiratimana, Mvemba Dizolele, Thomas
Luhaka, and Michel Losembe in understanding the shifting sands of Congolese
politics and in opening doors for me.
My research relied heavily on the hospitality of friends and strangers. To
several generations of dedicated journalists in Kinshasa, thanks for the couch,
the conspiracies, and insider advice—especially the Reuters crew of Dinesh
Mahtani, David Lewis and Joe Bavier, but also Franz Wild, Arnaud Zajtman,
Thomas Fessy, and Michael Kavanagh. James Astill and Marcos Lorenzana were
important companions through the early stages of the book, and Wim Verbeken,
Eddie Kariisa, and Jean-Jacques Simon provided wonderful hospitality. Federico
Borello, Louazna Khalouta, Matt Green, Djo Munga, and Johan Peleman were
also often on hand to help me out with support and expert advice.
Great Lakes politics is a minefield of stereotypes and misinformation. I was
fortunate to have experienced scholars and researchers to help me navigate,
including David and Catharine Newbury, Herbert Weiss, Peter Rosenblum,
Anneke van Woudenberg, and Ida Sawyer. My friends Serge Maheshe and
Alison Des Forges saw me begin this project and encouraged me along, but,
sadly, neither could see it finished. They will be sorely missed.
This was my first experience of writing and publishing a book. Many people
helped me through the process. Thanks to my parents, my wife, and my brother
for so patiently reading the various drafts and providing comments. Michela
Wrong believed in this project from the beginning and provided moral and
literary support, as did my agent, Robert Guinsler, and editor, Clive Priddle.
This book benefited from the support of the Rockefeller Foundation, whose
generous fellowship allowed me to enjoy peace and quiet at the Bellagio Center
for a month so I could make sense of my notes.
Acronyms
ADF Allied Democratic Forces (Uganda)
ADM Allied Democratic Movement (Uganda)
AFDL Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
BBC British Broadcasting Corporation
CIA Central Intelligence Agency
COMIEX Mixed Import-Export Company
COPACO Collective of Congolese Patriots
DRC Democratic Republic of the Congo
FAR Rwandan Armed Forces
FAZ Zairian Armed Forces
FDD Forces for the Defense of Democracy (Burundi)
FDLR Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
FLEC Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (Angola)
FNI National and Integrationist Front (Congo)
FNL National Liberation Forces (Burundi)
FRPI Patriotic Resistance Forces of Ituri (Congo)
ICHEC Catholic Institute of Higher Commercial Studies
IRC International Rescue Committee
LRA Lord’s Resistance Army (Uganda)
MLC Movement for the Liberation of the Congo
MPR Popular Revolutionary Movement
MRC Congolese Revolutionary Movement
NALU National Army for the Liberation of Uganda
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NGO NonGovernmental Organization
NRM National Resistance Movement (Uganda)
OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
OSLEG Operation Sovereign Legitimacy