DRC: Tshisekedi refused dialogue with M23 rebels to exterminate Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese

Author: Daniel Gatimu

• 2024-02-27 05:40:00

Addressing the diplomatic corps in Kinshasa, on January 30, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, once again said he will not talk to the M23 rebels, a move that shows his will to focus on exterminating Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese, especially Congolese Tutsi whom the rebel group is fighting to protect.

“No dialogue will take place with our aggressor as long as it occupies a portion of our territory," Tshisekedi said.

Tshisekedi has been referring to neighbouring Rwanda as the “aggressor” allegedly backing M23 rebels.

Kigali has, repeatedly, denied the allegations, and instead accused Kinshasa of heavily arming the FLDR terrorist group formed by the remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Tshisekedi blames Rwanda for the insecurity in eastern DRC to cover up his failures.

The endless scapegoating of Rwanda for DRC’s internal problems not only highlights Tshisekedi’s incompetence, but also his irresponsibility as a head of state. For decades, eastern DRC has been plagued violence, and hate speech, targeting the Congolese Tutsi, whose rights as Congolese citizens have been denied by successive Congolese governments.

Since the 1990s, Congolese officials, security forces, and citizens have persecuted Rwandophones and looted their property, alleging that the Congolese Tutsi community of attempted balkanize eastern DRC.

Thousands of Congolese refugees are hosted by neighboring countries including over 100,000 in Rwanda and millions others internally displaced as a result of the persecution in their own country. Some of them have spent more than 20 years in Rwandan refugee camps.

Knowing that without defending themselves, Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese will all be exterminated, the M23 rebels took up arms to defend themselves against an existential threat.

As simple as it is, the rebels demand that Kinshasa integrates them in the national army, protects the lives of Congolese Tutsi, recognizes them as legitimate Congolese citizens. Successive Congolese government denied their rights to citizenship and security. Political analysts and regional leaders believe that dialogue is the only viable path to a sustainable solution to the persisting hostilities in eastern DRC, but Tshisekedi has vowed not to engage in any talks with M23 rebels, opting for war to exterminate the Congolese Tutsi community in his country.

“It’s either complete peace or total war,” Tshisekedi said on January 30.

On February 9, the Israeli Ambassador to DRC, Shimon Solomon, called on the Deputy Prime Minister of National Defense and Veterans, Jean-Pierre Bemba, to resolve tensions through dialogue.

Tshisekedi’s regime has ignored the advice, and keeps attacking M23 as well as Congolese Tutsi communities.

The M23 rebels’ commitment towards peaceful resolution of the conflict is evident as they have, among others, observed cease-fires to show their commitment to the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes. Kinshasa breached the initiatives, when it forced the exit of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) despite the latter’s help in enabling a cease-fire to stand for almost eight months.

The M23 is seeking a solution through political dialogue, as first option, and has called on regional and international leaders to support the peace efforts.

But Tshisekedi hired mercenaries and numerous other forces including those with genocide ideology, like the FDLR, Burundian soldiers, and Wazalendo militia, to exterminate the Congolese Tutsi.

Diplomacy and dialogue remain essential tools to reach a lasting solution for insecurity in eastern DRC, and avoid bloodshed in the region. But Kinshasa is not committed. Tshisekedi is adding fuel to the already burning fire, destabilizing the country and sowing havoc in Africa’s great lakes region.

Where does Tshisekedi think the M23 rebels will go if they leave their home land?

Rwandophones found themselves in eastern DRC after the 1885 Berlin conference which resulted in the formerly Rwandan territories of Rutshuru, Bunyabungo, Masisi, Gishali, Tongo and Idjwi, among others, being given to DRC.

In 1960, Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese were estimated between 210,000 and 280,000 in Masisi territory alone. They outnumbered the Hunde whose population was between 10,000 and 30,000.