Congolese govt should understand M23 is not its biggest problem

Author: Emmanuel Mutebi

• 2024-08-31 06:00:00

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been experiencing insecurity, especially in its eastern part, for more than three decades. Presently, there are more than 260 armed groups operating in the country’s restive east. Many of these groups, sadly, receive support from the Congolese government through its corrupt security forces.

Causes of the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC include the country’s poor governance, endemic corruption, and the failure of the country’s political establishment to ensure security for the population.

The existence of foreign and local armed groups which sustain themselves from illegal mining revenue is merely a symptom of a larger problem. But the Congolese government blames all its problems on one armed group, M23 rebels. The rebellion is not the root cause of everything going wrong in a country considered to be the world's richest country in terms of wealth in natural resources.

What makes the country a safe haven for terror groups?

Corruption, weak governance and impunity are among the reasons why armed groups found a comfort zone in the country’s restive east. The prevalence of many armed groups subjected Congolese civilians to widespread rape and sexual violence, massive human rights violations, and extreme poverty.

Endemic corruption in the country is common knowledge ever since its independence. The Congolese government’s lack of political will to investigate alleged wrongdoings and the opacity of financial operations have long enabled corrupt officials to enjoy impunity.

Corruption in the country happens within all state institutions including security institutions, and has destabilizing effects. During his state visit to Ituri, one of the two eastern provinces put under a state of siege since May 2021 with the aim of putting an end to the proliferation of armed groups, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi deplored the high levels of corruption within the national army.

Due to corruption, nearly 80 per cent of customs revenues are embezzled, a quarter of the national budget is not properly accounted for, and millions of dollars are misappropriated in the army and state-run companies.

The plague of bad governance continues to affect the country. Violent crime is common and local police lack resources to respond effectively to serious crimes. Demonstrations are common in many cities. Some have turned violent.

Tshisekedi has presided over a system of entrenched impunity. Officials responsible for abuses are routinely rewarded with appointments to public positions, wealth, and power. Congolese security forces have orchestrated much of the violence in the east, in some cases by creating or backing local armed groups.

The ongoing violence and massacres in eastern DRC were escalated by hate speech spread by Congolese officials who were supposed to halt them.

Kinshasa kept quiet and no single individual was tried for inciting hate speech, killing the CongoleseTutsi, or looting and damaging their properties.

Widespread impunity continues to reign, contributing to the recurrence of killings and other serious crimes. Documented crimes remain unpunished. For three decades, for example, Kinshasa has not shown any sound proof that it won't tolerate the FDLR reign of terror and the group’s leaders won't enjoy impunity for their crimes.

The origins of the current violence in DRC are in the massive refugee crisis and spillover from the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The génocidaires fled to eastern DRC – where they were welcomed with open arms – and formed armed groups, intent on wiping out the Tutsi population there.

Tshisekedi has, for long, been advised by world leaders, politicians and diplomats to solve the problem diplomatically by dismantling these genocidaires but their advice went unheeded. 

The M23 is not Kinshasa’s top priority. The DRC is its own enemy, fighting the same people they are supposed to protect. The rebels are far from being the sole cause of the DRC conflict. They are fighting for a genuine cause; their rights to life and establishment as any other Congolese citizens.