Here’s a terrific article by Michelle Faul of the Associated Press about the sort of thing that’s often rumored in quiet dinner conversation in the Great Rift Valley region. Well, we keep our voices down in my part of the valley, anyway.
It’s got all my favorite elements — land, conflict, cows — in terrifying combination.
Don’t say she didn’t warn you.
UPDATE: Follow that with a dose of great analysis by TexasinAfrica, who points out,
It’s also important to remember that Congolese politicians have a long history of manipulating fears of a “Rwandaphone invasion” to strengthen their political positions. As Tegera points out, North Kivu politicians are engaging in blatant fear-mongering in order to strengthen their political positions. Legislative and presidential elections are scheduled for 2011, and the Congolese government at just about every level is unpopular in the Kivus – primarily because Kabila ran on a platform of bringing peace to the region in 2006. Contrary to their expectations when the region voted for him at above 90% rates, most residents of the Kivus have experienced more insecurity since 2006, not less. Politicians in the Kivus have an incentive to stir up emotions in the electorate, and dredging up the spectre of a longstanding enemy is a surefire way to win support.
