Regional
DRC a lucrative venture for MONUSCO, SADC
Congolese
President Felix Tshisekedi has, more than once, called for a speedy withdrawal
of the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO). The gigantic mission has been
operating in the country for more than two decades.
UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized Kinshasa’s wish confirming that
by January 2024 the mission would begin its withdraw, in a ‘leaked’ report
transmitted to the UN Security Council in August 2023.
The
Congolese had protested against the UN mission, wanting the blue helmets to
leave their country because of its collaboration with their national army and
their consistent failure to stop armed groups from attacking and killing them.
Established
in 2000, the UN peacekeeping mission's mandate was to protect civilians. More
than two decades later, the mission has brought no positive change.
In
their presence, foreign and local armed groups have increased from about five
to more than 260, with the support of the Congolese national army and political
leaders. They cause more chaos as hundreds of thousands of Congolese citizens
have been killed by these armed groups, and millions other people have been
displaced, under their watch.
The
blue helmets have watched, tight-lipped, as the FDLR, a terror group formed by
individuals responsible of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda,
became an integral part of the Congolese army, FARDC.
The
silence from MONUSCO concerning these evil deals is not a sign of neutrality,
but of tacit support of the actions of FDLR/FARDC. The inaction renders MONUSCO
effectively complicit.
The
DRC welcomed the Southern African Development Community Mission (SAMIDRC) to
attack and finish off the M23 rebels. Kinshasa initially wanted MONUSCO to
withdraw, expecting SAMIDRC to take over.
The
blue helmets have failed to fulfil a mandate that includes supporting DRC’s
dysfunctional military in stabilizing the eastern region and protecting
civilians. Both missions are more interested in looting DRC than protecting
civilians. The two missions have turned DRC into some kind of cake to share as
they wish.
The question now is; what is MONUSCO and SADC really doing in DRC when both missions never met their mandate obligations? Why are they extending their stay in the region?
If the UN mission really wanted to end the violence, given its vast means, it would already have done so. But it never really planned to do so in the first place.