EngRegional
What will happen if Tshisekedi gets a second term?
The DRC's President Félix Tshisekedi
The
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is set to hold general elections on December
20.
According
to the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), a list of 25
candidates will face current Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi, who is
seeking a second five-year term.
No
matter how strong or united the opposition is, Tshisekedi has already paved his
way to stay in office.
Tshisekedi’s
five-year term in office was characterized with human rights violations,
deteriorating security situation, violence, and corruption. The economic and
social situation in DRC only worsened.
With
nothing to present but broken promises, what would Tshisekedi deliver to the Congolese
if he frauds himself into the top office again?
For almost
three decades, the east of DRC has been a safe haven for more than 200 local
and foreign armed groups, leading to hundreds of Congolese losing their lives
and thousands of others being displaced. Tshisekedi never showed any will to solve
the conflicts and stabilize the country.
Initiatives
like the Luanda and Nairobi peace agreements were violated. The agreements
stipulated a ceasefire of all armed groups, political dialogue with armed
groups, and the deployment of the EAC regional peace keeping mission, among
others.
Instead
of following the agreements’ roadmap, and supporting the ceasefire, Tshisekedi
heavily armed the genocidal FDLR, a group made of perpetrators of the 1994
Genocide against the Tutsi. The FDLR formed a coalition with the Congolese
army, European mercenaries, and other militia groups, to fight the M23 rebels,
effectively violating the ceasefire.
Tshisekedi has also been eager to chase the East African
Community Regional Force out his country, yet the force made significant
progress in upholding the ceasefire, and bringing peace in the region.
Purposely violating the Luanda and Nairobi peace initiatives showed
that Tshisekedi does not want peace and his stay in office will only fuel the
security crisis in the east of his country.
Tshisekedi’s failures in handling eastern DRC conflicts are
rooted in his fragile leadership approaches. He choose to scapegoat Rwanda.
Tshisekedi said that he is not interested in building bridges
with Rwanda. He prefers to build walls. This shows that the Congolese leader
will keep failing diplomatically, in his next term.
When he took office,
Tshisekedi listed a series of promises aimed at improving the welfare
of the Congolese population. The Congolese were hopeful. But, unfortunately for
them, after five years in power there is more trouble, misery and pain.
The Congolese should not expect any better if Tshisekedi
is re-elected.
