Video footage is circulating online, showing FDLR genocidaires outfit fighters, clad in FADRC military fatigues, while in action in eastern Congo against M23. The FDLR fighters can be heard sharing command messages (in the conspicuous northern Rwanda accent) on their walkie-talkies against the cracking of machine gun fire in the background.
The Congolese M23 movement has recently issued statements highlighting the rejuvenation of collaboration between the Congolese national army (FARDC), with FDLR and Maimai Nyatura terrorists during the battles that have broken out after Tshisekedi decided to defy regional calls for cessation of hostilities, and attacked M23 positions.
The new revelations add to the pile of substantial evidence that has been presented by different credible entities exposing the coalition of FARDC and dangerous armed groups like FDLR. This further complicates matters, especially considering the Kinshasa regime has been vehemently “denying any knowledge of collaboration between FARDC and FDLR, or any other armed group for that matter”. Despite these irrefutable facts, Tshisekedi and his cronies have been presenting the M23 as the center of gravity for the conflict in eastern DRC.
Unfortunately, regional and international stakeholders, who have responded to DRC’s false alarm, seem to be falling for Tshisekedi’s lies, and following the wrong lead. After his chest-thumping about mobilizing military capacity to defeat the M23 rebellion, Tshisekedi’s shame has turned into irrational anger. He is a failed leader that has never had the will to solve problems like M23 – which is fighting for the rights of DRC’s Tutsi citizens. Tshisekedi only knows how to whip up anti-Rwanda hate, and (with FDLR) is perpetrating genocide against innocent Congolese citizens that happen to be Tutsi, Kinyarwanda-speaking people.
In any case, whoever tries to calm Tshisekedi down, to think of a reasonable approach that would ensure a sustainable solution to the conflict is brushed aside and labeled as an ‘enemy of Congo.’
But the reality is that if the international community and the region want to help the Congolese people in a meaningful way, they should not rush to implement a military solution as per Tshisekedi’s wishes. The conflict calls for a systematic approach that will examine the underlying issues that have caused the conflict that has affected millions of innocent Congolese in the Kivu provinces.
In fact, the mechanisms should give little attention to Tshisekedi’s recommendations as they seek an in-depth understanding of the problem to pacify eastern Congo sustainably.
Eradicating M23 (even if it were possible) will not cure the acute governance problems of DRC, and neither will it necessarily mean the end to armed conflict there.
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