DRC problem can only be solved by Congolese

Author: Emma Mukasa

• 2023-06-15 05:22:00

In an interview with South African media, SABC News, ahead of the 13^th Thabo Mbeki Africa Annual Lecture in Guinea Conakry, on May 25, the South African former President, Mbeki, said that the Congolese government must take responsibility and solve its problems.

Asked about the reason behind the never-ending violence and conflict in eastern DRC, Mbeki said that Kinshasa considers its insecurity situation as an external problem whereas it is an internal one.

He said: “The origin of the problem itself in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo of this conflict comes from the Mobutu.”

When the Mobutu regime refused to recognize the Rwandan-speaking population of the eastern DRC as Congolese, he noted, that is when it started having a militia formed to turn this Congolese Tutsi out of DRC into Rwanda.

The South African ex-president warned that “so long as the central authority in Kinshasa does not regard some of the people in the east as Congolese so long as the conflict continues.”

The local populations have been told that these people are foreigners, he said, noting that locals form a militia to attack people.

“That problem has to be solved by the government of the Congo. It is critical, the Congolese government must take responsibility to say we are Congolese together. They are no Banyamulenge in the Congo or foreigners. So anybody who tries to do anything to threaten Banyamulenge, the government of the Congo, will act against that. The problem would be solved.”

Other than the minority Rwandophone community in DRC that experienced discrimination, hatred and racism for almost three decades, tribal hatred in DRC is real and destroying the state and ruining the life of Congolese.

However, instead of looking at the problem through its real lens, Kinshasa continuously points fingers at Kigali every time a problem crops up. This stance only worsens the situation.

The Congolese constitution states that no one may be discriminated against on the basis of his race, ethnicity, tribe, or culture. But longstanding ethnic tensions continue to fuel community violence as the Congolese government watches.

In April 2021, there were clashes between the ethnic Nande and Kumu communities in Buhene district, North Kivu Province. Kumu men along with local police and military police raided the region, killing at least eight ethnic Nande, leaving scores more wounded, and looting Nande-owned houses and businesses.

The violence were triggered by the deaths of two members of the Kumu community during demonstrations against MONUSCO. However, Kinshasa did not react nor meaningfully investigate the role of security forces in the killing of the citizens.

An investigation conducted by the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) established that from December 2017 to September 2019, at least 701 people were killed and 168 injured during inter-ethnic tensions between the Hema and Lendu communities, in the territories of Djugu and Mahagi,. Among their objectives is to take control of the land of the Hema communities and their associated resources.

From June 2022 to May 2023, more than 300 people were killed in cycles of attacks and reprisals between the Teke and Yaka communities in the Bandundu region. The conflict stemmed from disagreements concerning land rights and tax collection. However, violence never stopped despite the presence of FARDC reinforcements sent to reestablish security in the region.

Surprisingly, President Felix Tshisekedi, in May, blamed Rwanda for this inter-ethnic conflict. He said: “These communities have always lived together since the world is the world, the Congo is Congo. If there's anything today, it's that shady things are going on and I'm not afraid to say that our horrible neighbor there [Rwanda] is no stranger to what is happening in Kinshasa.”

Blaming Rwanda for every problem of DRC shows that Kinshasa is not ready and committed to solving its own problems as it always finds a scapegoat.

If the DRC government wants sustainable peace and security, it is imperative that it stops the finger-pointing strategy, fix its problems and seek support where it deems necessary.