DRC: Who are the ‘Wazalendo’ militia responsible for ceasefire violation?

Author: Josephine Kalembe

• 2023-10-28 05:30:00

For a brief time, since February 2023, the war-weary people of eastern DRC saw a glimpse of calm and peace, and were optimistic about a long-promised peace process.

The Congolese national army, FARDC, and their allies, had agreed to a ceasefire, and the M23 rebels had withdrawn from the territories they occupied handing them over to the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF). However, eight months after the fragile ceasefire was initiated, hostilities resumed.

Since early October, large-scale hostilities resumed in Masisi and Rutshuru, in North Kivu. Several local sources indicated that the fighting was between the Wazalendo and the M23. The rebels were attacked at Kilolirwe, Nturo, Gicwa, and some other areas in Masisi Territory.

Following the attacks, the Congolese government claimed that the Wazalendo are only young Congolese ‘patriots’ defending their country.

But who are they really?

The genesis of the creation of Wazalendo, started in November 2022, when Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi rallied young Congolese men and women to organize themselves into ‘vigilance groups’, to support the country’s forces, in a mission to defend the country from enemies, and their alleged Rwandan aggressor.

The Congolese leader then instructed the army to establish recruitment centres across the country in response to this call. Soon after, more than 30,000 young Congolese had joined the ‘vigilantee groups’ and started trainings with the Congolese army.

A year later, these same ‘vigilantee groups’ have been trained, armed and they call themselves the Wazalendo. But there is a catch! The group does not work alone.

When fighting from different parts of eastern DRC, like Masisi, Bwiza and others erupted, the national army was quick to release a statement claiming that the Wazalendo had intercepted a truck carrying their supplies, and stole their uniforms.

On October 15, the so-called Wazalendo launched an offensive in Bwiza. They were after the Congolese Tutsi refugees that they had chased from Masisi. After being repelled from Bwiza and Kitchanga, by the M23 rebels, some Wazalendo items were recovered on the battlefield.

According to local reports, guns registered under the Burundian Forces were recovered, as well as contracts depicting an agreement between the Congolese government and the Burundian army to supply arms, information and fight alongside the FARDC.

Despite claiming that the Wazalendo stole their uniform, the Congolese government army has been able to form a coalition comprising the Wazalendo, FDLR, and the Burundian army. This coalition is responsible for the violation of the ceasefire, but Kinshasa only wants it to look as if  its an angry mob of the ‘Wazalendo’, or patriots, who are defending their country.

Kinshasa is convinced that only a military solution will tackle the root causes of the conflict in their country, and is further frustrating the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes, by creating and supporting more armed groups.