In August, the Democratic Republic of Congo's ruling party, Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), confirmed President Félix Tshisekedi's candidacy for the 2023 presidential election at an extraordinary congress in Kinshasa. Although opposition candidates have requested for electoral reforms ahead of election, nothing has been done.

The UN Joint Human Rights Office warned Tshisekedi’s government of “political and electoral violence, arbitrary arrests and detentions, abductions and threats targeting political opponents."

With only three months left to the general elections, Congolese expect to hear from Tshisekedi the level of preparedness for elections, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to put up a calendar for political campaign for presidential candidates.

However, the story from Kinshasa is different.

All the focus is on how to divert attention of the Congolese people and the international community, to how the government is pre-occupied with the war in the east of the country.

When will the state of siege be lifted?

Tshisekedi has refused to lift the State of Siege in eastern DRC although since the arrival of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF), the region has been generally peaceful.

In May 2023, Kinshasa reluctantly agreed to extend the regional force’s mandate, despite the achievements it counted in its efforts to bring peace. Early September, again, with Kinshasa dragging its feet, the East African Community extended the mandate of EACRF until December 8, about two weeks before the elections.

It has been Tshisekedi’s wish to expel EACRF and MONUSCO and instead deploy government created and supported militias such as Wazalendo and foreign terror groups like the genocidal FDLR, to cause more havoc in eastern DRC and to give ‘justifiable ground’ for postponing elections.

The Congolese people should expect more suffering as the transition from Tshisekedi to Tshisekedi takes shape before December.

The fear of election defeat is understandable on the side of Tshisekedi, as the Congolese people know well that he has not registered any achievements since assuming presidency in 2019.

He has to resort to manipulation of the electoral process and extension of his mandate as he makes all possible maneuvers to weaken and silence the opposition.

Implications on neighboring countries

Armed groups from neighboring countries like Red Tabara from Burundi, ADF from Uganda, and the genocidal FDLR from Rwanda, have used DRC territory as their safe haven to plan attacks on their countries of origin.

Tshisekedi has not only armed FDLR, but has taken a dangerous step further to incorporate them in the national army (FARCD). The DRC, therefore, will continue to be a source of insecurity to its neighbors contrary the spirit of EAC regional integration and good neighborliness.

The spillover effect of the crisis in eastern DRC will continue to create an influx of refugees who will seek sanctuary in neighboring countries.

Unresolved M23 rebellion    

Refusing to acknowledge the M23 rebellion as an internal political problem that must be dealt with through diplomatic means but, instead, scapegoating Rwanda, will always undermine peace efforts in eastern DRC.

Despite advice from regional leaders to embrace dialogue with the rebels, Tshisekedi continues to rely on military force which cannot provide a lasting solution.  

The UN has warned of increased hate speech and violence in eastern DRC targeting a section of Congolese people.

"We have also seen an escalation of hate speech and incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence throughout the country - and particularly against Kinyarwanda speakers…” the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, and the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Nderitu, said in June.

The M23 rebels say took up arms to fight for their rights as legitimate Congolese.

As Tshisekedi readies himself to extend his tenure on the presidential seat, a dark cloud still lingers over eastern DRC, where lawlessness resulting from roaming armed militias is on the rise, despite regional efforts to help restore peace.

Without a permanent solution to bring peace in eastern DRC, there will be no peace in the Great Lakes Region.