Regional
‘We are not weak’: Who is Tshisekedi fooling with grandiose war threats?
In a recent interview, the president of the
mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo, told the Financial Times in his
office in Kinshasa, that he will not stand by as an armed group allegedly
supported by Kigali steps up attacks in his country’s resource-rich east.
Tshisekedi warned that war could break out
with Rwanda unless it stops backing rebels fighting in the east of his country.
“This possibility cannot be ruled out. If
Rwanda’s provocation continues, we will not sit and do nothing about it. We are
not weak,” Tshisekedi, president of the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of
Congo, told the Financial Times in his office in Kinshasa.
As reported, Tshisekedi’s
comments follow a strong offensive in eastern DRC by the M23 rebel group, which
the Congolese leader said was backed by Rwanda. Kigali denies backing the
rebels who are Congolese nationals fighting for their rights in a region where
everyone seems to fend for themselves or get killed.
The FT interview was published
just hours before Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame met in Luanda, Angola,
to discuss how the tensions between both countries can be de-escalated and to
try find a permanent solution to the crisis in the eastern DRC.
Tshisekedi’s statement drew the attention of
analysts on the reality of the Congolese military’s weaknesses, its ability to
transform into a strong and responsive armed force overnight, the root causes
of the decades long security challenges in eastern DRC and the long-standing state
vulnerability at large.
While Tshisekedi has
repeatedly reminded the general public that his country’s army, FARDC, was far
from being weak and that it was actually considering to wage a war on Rwanda
for the latter’s alleged support to the M23 rebel group, there are some telling
questions.
Why is the FARDC
continuously losing the battle and when is the President’s magic wand going to
be activated to give a new lease of life to the country’s armed force against
the security threats, perhaps, starting with the M23?
Eastern DRC hosts
more than 130 rebel groups; wreaking havoc for more than three decades. The
reason of their continued existence is nothing else other than the interconnected
organizational weaknesses of FARDC and, bad governance.
According to
analysts, there is need for profound reforms in the military and to some extent
in the civilian ranks of the country’s governance as well. This, is a must-do
before the country’s leadership can think of activating the FARDC in a war
against Rwanda or any other country, leave alone against the M23. The latter
group which, clearly, is motivated by a cause for justice has already exposed
the inefficiencies of the FARDC.
The current state of
FARDC at the battle front against the M23 ought to direct Tshisekedi on where
to start when building a strong army for his country.
Lack of unity of
purpose, corruption within the army, lack of morale and lack of patriotic
values are some of the issues to sort out.
For a leader to
attest that his army is not weak, there should be basic indicators to the
confirmation. It should be based on the records of his defense force’s
achievements. Historical records indicate that the FARDC never won a single
battle against any country, or even an internal armed group for that matter.
The setback of the M23, in 2013, was as a
result of an offensive by the Force Intervention Brigade, under MONUSCO.
Congolese Generals are
known for selling weapons to different rebel groups. The FARDC arms its enemies
through direct sell of weapons.
To show some
semblance of strength, what the Congolese Generals often do is form alliances
with negative forces operating in eastern DRC. Their most valued allies being
the FDLR with whom they are associated in the current fight against the M23 group.
Who are the FDLR? This
is a terrorist militia responsible for worst suffering to human kind in recent
history. The FDLR was founded by genocide ideologues who masterminded the
Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, 28 years ago.
They are the mercenary
force that, most likely, Tshisekedi is relying on to boost his army’s strength.
But that is a grave mistake. Collaboration with forces of evil will only worsen
Tshisekedi’s problems, not ease them.
Tshisekedi started
off on a good foot, a few years ago, but now looks set on a self-destruction
course.
There are tales of a
sinister but patient plot, orchestrated from within, especially by proponents
of the Mobutu Sese Seko regime to undermine and cause Tshisekedi’s down
fall.