L'Heure des rebelles - traduit du néerlandais par Marie Hooghe

More about the book

Lieve Joris, acclaimed as one of the world's finest journalists, explores the tumultuous landscape of contemporary Congo through the life of Assani, a complex rebel leader who rises to become a general in the Congolese army. Originating from a remote village, Assani's journey begins when he moves to the city for education and discovers his Tutsi ethnicity. Despite his initial disinterest in politics and military affairs, he is drawn into the violent conflict that erupts in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. As a strong and cunning individual, Assani transforms into a formidable rebel leader, commanding a group of kadogos—child soldiers—while navigating a perilous environment filled with rival factions, hostile mobs in Kinshasa, and the threat posed by the rebel-turned-dictator Laurent Kabila. The narrative immerses readers in Assani's chaotic world, where survival is paramount and human life is devalued. Through Joris' vivid portrayal, Assani emerges as both a monstrous figure and a sympathetic character, embodying the duality of perpetrator and victim in a lawless nation.