Is the annexation of Rwanda by Uganda a valid military goal? PART 1

Imagine this.

There is an impromptu celestial meeting to discuss the endless stream of innocent souls from the unending violence in Central Africa – described as the garden of Eden, home to the first man ( and woman) and apple of the eye of the ruler of heavens.

It is prompted by reports of an impending war between Uganda and Rwanda.

Two men who know a thing or two about killing, looting in the name of building great nations in this land of promise are brought in to give testimony.

First up is an Ethiopian named Meles.

What say you? asks the chief Celestial Being brimming with rage? Is there a higher purpose to this mayhem?
“Sir” says Meles quietly. “Uhuru (freedom) is dead. Murdered. An epitaph on its grave reads “ Restless is the land of failed dreams and hopes red with the blood of martyrs”.

Next is a Congolese man Mobutu.
“Don’t ask me” he begs. “ Wait for the Ugandan Yoweri. He has been in power longer than me now. He once said the killing was because we overstayed in power. Now he has been in power for 33 years and counting”.

A shrill voice interrupts. It is the Rwandan Karegeya.
“Let’s wait for my countryman Kagame. He may be in power longer”.

The Celestial Being, keeper of Time and Master of Histories asks again. What have we learnt?
“What happened to the dreams of liberation, the dawn of a new era when peace, growth and equality, solidarity amongst Africans would reign? Is this not what you fought for?

Meles the Ethiopian answers in a matter of fact voice now. “A revolution against a government is not the same as a revolutionary government. Our post liberation hopes died in the loving arms of democracy Sir”.

He continued. “It is not that Yoweri and Paul may come to outlive the time of Mobutu in power. It is that the conditions that made liberation necessary have returned. After the killings were done, the germinating seed of hope was battered by the harsh weather of human nature, corruption, self-aggrandizement, weak governance, pseudo democracies, blood rivalries”

“In other words, the more things changed the more they remained the same.”

The American Mr X spoke up uninvited. “The lesson here is that human nature is permanent. Revolution only changes our view of it from time to time. Look at how post-liberation movements have settled back to the old order. States against states – because greedy elites have nothing better to offer than false nationalism. Kenya against Somalia, Rwanda and Uganda feuding, Ethiopia flexing its muscle in the Horn of Africa. But you know all this. You created the white men that lit the fire to this party. They are still around. Like those busybody French. Anyway none of these states existed 200 years ago”.

The Celestial Being paused. “There is so much killing you are saying in the name of borders that did not exist, identities that are recent, thrones set up in the last 30 to 50 years. Did your martyrs die for false gods? So if Uganda and Rwanda go to war – what will those martyrs die for?

To be Continued…