By Annisa Essack
02:08:2022

Dr Mustapha Mheta, Senior Researcher and Head of Africa Desk at Media Review Network, Johannesburg, South Africa, and the Dean of the School of Languages at Somali National University, spoke to Radio Islam International. He covered the situation in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, the Kenyan Election and the tensions between Rwanda and the DRC.

With the efforts between SADC and Rwanda, the situation in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, has seen a slowdown in rebel activities in the area as their strategies seem practical and working. He says that the enemies are being hit from all sides. A recent joint Mozambique and Lesotho Defence Force busted a group of rebels who had destroyed people.

He added that there seem to be some positive outcomes in the region.

On the Kenyan elections, Dr Mheta said that the elections appear to be peaceful, and this time, the issues focus on bread and butter issues rather than simple politicking. He explained that when a country chooses to vote for a party and not just for a personality, it highlights maturity in the voter’s choices and political consciousness.

And in doing so, the country will benefit from this in the long run and a good precedent set.

According to Dr Mheta, the DRC has been at war for years, and the situation is of concern. He believes the animosity between the people in Rwanda is still prevalent and adds to the current situation.

He says that the root cause is the suspicions between the DRC and Rwanda. Rwanda suspects the DRC of harbouring former Hutus who fled into the rainforests of the DRC and launched attacks against Rwanda. Meanwhile, the DRC complains that the Rwandan soldiers are fighting to loot the country’s natural resources.

To solve the situation, he says there should be mechanisms and assurances from both sides, which should come from the African Union, SADC and East African communities. He warned that the situation could spill out of control if this were not done soon.

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