Regional
DRC’s security crisis not Rwanda’s responsibility
Congolese
President Félix Tshisekedi has been blaming Rwanda for the security crisis in the
east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, an issue that has been ongoing for
almost three decades.
Why
not blame the right people for this situation? If there are any valid criticisms
to be directed to Rwanda, Kigali will accept them.
Related: Kagame:
The problem is not between me and Tshisekedi
But the
parties escalating the insecurity that has plagued eastern DRC for decades, be it
the government in Kinshasa, or members of the M23 rebellion, are all Congolese
citizens. No way should Rwanda be blamed for this sad situation.
Related: Why
the M23 rebels are fighting
The
rebels are fighting to protect the lives of their persecuted community, Congolese
Tutsi who are now targets of hate speech and violence orchestrated by their own
government.
They took
up arms to defend themselves against an existential threat. If they don’t
fight, they will all be exterminated. Hundreds have, so far, been murdered in
various parts of eastern DRC.
The group
has been fighting in DRC since late 2021, after nearly a decade of silence
following their defeat in 2013. It is calling for the rights of its persecuted
and disowned community to be recognized as legitimate citizens with full rights
as any other Congolese nationals.
The
Congolese government has to understand that the conflict in the east of the
country is their own responsibility not the neighbor’s.
Related: Tshisekedi’s
plan to kick out EAC regional force spells doom for DRC
Different
regional initiatives including the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes were designed
to solve the conflict in eastern DRC, but Tshisekedi turned against the
efforts.
The East
African Community Regional Force secured territories evacuated by the M23
rebels since December 2022, as stipulated in the Luanda roadmap. The regional
force now occupies Sake, Kibumba, Rumangabo, Mushaki, Kilolirwe, Kitchanga,
Kiwanja, and Bunagana among many other areas previously controlled by the
rebels.
Kinshasa
not only failed to dialogue with the M23 as the next stage after their withdrawal,
but instead, plotted to put the rebels on the warpath again.
Tshisekedi
sabotaged all the regional efforts aimed at pacifying the region by plotting
demonstrations against peace keeping missions, creating more armed groups and collaborated
with the UN sanctioned Rwandan genocidal militia, FDLR.
As if
that was not enough, Tshisekedi hired Western mercenaries to collaborate with
the newly created armed groups like Wazalendo,
and FDLR in attacking the M23.
Tshisekedi
prefers war with the M23 despite regional leaders reiterating that the conflict
can only be sustainably resolved through a political process.
His
priority now is not halting insecurity in eastern DRC, but securing his presidential
seat. He still wants bribes, enjoying luxury trips and vacations while the Congolese
population suffers from hunger, poor infrastructure, insecurity as well as bad
governance.
Blaming Rwanda for all his failures is only a pretext to confuse his compatriots.