Belgium knows cause of DRC's insecurity but ignored them to appease Tshisekedi

Author: Moses Kayinamura

• 2024-02-19 05:06:00

Since January 2024, Belgium, a European country that colonized Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has assumed the presidency of the European Union. Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib has urged Congolese leaders to address the root causes of insecurity in eastern DRC.

Lahbib called on the Congolese national army, FARDC, to cease collaboration with armed groups, including FDLR, a terrorist group formed by remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Having colonized DRC for 52 years, Belgium understands the root causes of insecurity in the volatile country, including its own divisive political legacy.

The conflict between Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese and other Congolese nationals date back to the Belgian colonial rule way before independence.

Banyarwanda had already been in DRC due to arbitrary border drawing by colonial powers, and additional Banyarwanda were brought into the Kivu region by Belgians for agricultural work especially during the second world war.

Driven by political and economic interests, Belgium continues to work with Tshisekedi’s regime and trains its army, which is committing human rights abuses.

As president of the European Union, Belgium's denouncement of the collaboration between FARDC and FDLR indicates its awareness of the root causes of insecurity in eastern DRC, even if Congolese leaders attempt to divert attention.

Belgium uses opportunities, including international meetings and sports activities, to condemn Rwanda for allegedly supporting the M23 rebellion.

Despite DRC having over 260 armed groups, only M23 is often highlighted, creating a distorted narrative about the situation in eastern DRC.

The insecurity in Ituri Province is more alarming than in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces combined in terms of death toll and displaced population.

However, due to economic interests, North Kivu captures the attention of the DRC government and its allies, especially the Belgian government.

Congolese leaders assert that they will not engage in any kind of dialogue with M23, labeling them as "terrorists," yet they consistently lose ground and portray themselves as victims.

Through endless propaganda, Kinshasa has influenced its people to believe that Rwanda is behind their problems.

Rather than merely inspecting DRC, Belgium should acknowledge its role in the root causes of insecurity in eastern DRC.

When M23 was defeated in 2013, the number of armed groups was fewer than 140. With the resurgence of M23 after being abandoned by the international community, and spending 10 years in refugee camps, the number of armed groups in eastern DRC has more than doubled.

Addressing the root causes without political interests is the only way to restore peace in eastern DRC, and these root causes are well known. Bad leadership and lack of political will to address issues affecting Congolese citizens are high on the list of the root causes of the vast country’s problems. Giving genocidal forces from Rwanda a safe haven is another problem that the Congolese authorities and their allies in the West never want to tackle.