‘We are not weak’: Who is Tshisekedi fooling with grandiose war threats?

In a recent interview, the president of the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo, told the Financial Times in his office in Kinshasa, that he will not stand by as an armed group allegedly supported by Kigali steps up attacks in his country’s resource-rich east.

Tshisekedi warned that war could break out with Rwanda unless it stops backing rebels fighting in the east of his country.

“This possibility cannot be ruled out. If Rwanda’s provocation continues, we will not sit and do nothing about it. We are not weak,” Tshisekedi, president of the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo, told the Financial Times in his office in Kinshasa.

As reported, Tshisekedi’s comments follow a strong offensive in eastern DRC by the M23 rebel group, which the Congolese leader said was backed by Rwanda. Kigali denies backing the rebels who are Congolese nationals fighting for their rights in a region where everyone seems to fend for themselves or get killed.

The FT interview was published just hours before Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame met in Luanda, Angola, to discuss how the tensions between both countries can be de-escalated and to try find a permanent solution to the crisis in the eastern DRC.

 Tshisekedi’s statement drew the attention of analysts on the reality of the Congolese military’s weaknesses, its ability to transform into a strong and responsive armed force overnight, the root causes of the decades long security challenges in eastern DRC and the long-standing state vulnerability at large.

While Tshisekedi has repeatedly reminded the general public that his country’s army, FARDC, was far from being weak and that it was actually considering to wage a war on Rwanda for the latter’s alleged support to the M23 rebel group, there are some telling questions.

Why is the FARDC continuously losing the battle and when is the President’s magic wand going to be activated to give a new lease of life to the country’s armed force against the security threats, perhaps, starting with the M23?

Eastern DRC hosts more than 130 rebel groups; wreaking havoc for more than three decades. The reason of their continued existence is nothing else other than the interconnected organizational weaknesses of FARDC and, bad governance.

According to analysts, there is need for profound reforms in the military and to some extent in the civilian ranks of the country’s governance as well. This, is a must-do before the country’s leadership can think of activating the FARDC in a war against Rwanda or any other country, leave alone against the M23. The latter group which, clearly, is motivated by a cause for justice has already exposed the inefficiencies of the FARDC.

The current state of FARDC at the battle front against the M23 ought to direct Tshisekedi on where to start when building a strong army for his country.

Lack of unity of purpose, corruption within the army, lack of morale and lack of patriotic values are some of the issues to sort out.  

For a leader to attest that his army is not weak, there should be basic indicators to the confirmation. It should be based on the records of his defense force’s achievements. Historical records indicate that the FARDC never won a single battle against any country, or even an internal armed group for that matter.

 The setback of the M23, in 2013, was as a result of an offensive by the Force Intervention Brigade, under MONUSCO.

Congolese Generals are known for selling weapons to different rebel groups. The FARDC arms its enemies through direct sell of weapons.

To show some semblance of strength, what the Congolese Generals often do is form alliances with negative forces operating in eastern DRC. Their most valued allies being the FDLR with whom they are associated in the current fight against the M23 group.

Who are the FDLR? This is a terrorist militia responsible for worst suffering to human kind in recent history. The FDLR was founded by genocide ideologues who masterminded the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, 28 years ago.

They are the mercenary force that, most likely, Tshisekedi is relying on to boost his army’s strength. But that is a grave mistake. Collaboration with forces of evil will only worsen Tshisekedi’s problems, not ease them.

Tshisekedi started off on a good foot, a few years ago, but now looks set on a self-destruction course.

There are tales of a sinister but patient plot, orchestrated from within, especially by proponents of the Mobutu Sese Seko regime to undermine and cause Tshisekedi’s down fall.