Congolese ruler Tshisekedi is hell-bent on pursuing a bellicose stance when it comes to dealing with the crisis within his own borders, leaving his sub-regional, and international partners with no assurance that the commitments established in Luanda and Nairobi to bring peace in the war-torn DRC will be upheld.
In defiance of these two peace processes, Tshisekedi has persistently provoked Rwanda and continue to display an unapologetic attitude for repeatedly violating the ceasefire with the M23 Congolese mutineers. Frankly, there’s a growing concern in political and diplomatic circles that he could cross a line that will never be able to be uncrossed.
For example, Tshisekedi has officially sanctioned the support of violent armed groups, responsible for countless instances of rape and murder for nearly three decades in DRC. This endorsement comes under the pretext of Law No. 23/014, enacted on May 22, 2023, which gave birth to a coalition of armed groups operating under the banner of “Wazalendo.”Needless to say, this was yet another move by Tshisekedi that has greatly angered all the international bodies (the US, UN, the EU, and the AU) and regional (ICGLR, SADC, EAC).
None of these bodies have ever sanctioned Tshisekedi’s hare-brained scheme of deploying violent armed groups to combat the M23 Congolese mutineers. What they stood behind were the Nairobi and Luanda processes, which emphasized the orderly demobilization of local armed groups through a structured political process inclusive of negotiations with Congolese authorities in Nairobi. Furthermore, it was explicitly agreed that foreign armed groups like the Tropical Nazis from FDLR would be disarmed and repatriated.
However, none of these peace agreements have come to fruition. In contrast, under Tshisekedi’s directives, the regular Congolese army (FARDC) has formed partnerships with these armed groups—both local and foreign— some with intentions to destabilize neighboring governments that are democratically elected. Instead of eradicating these groups, as mandated, Tshisekedi have bolstered them with ammunition and deployed them to the frontlines to launch attacks against the M23 Congolese mutineers. This has led to the violations of the ceasefire that has been observed since 7 March 2023.
So, here’s some advice for Tshisekedi: if he wishes to avoid antagonizing his international and sub-regional partners, who have poured considerable time and resources into seeking solutions for the DRC’s woes, it is critical that he ceases arming and dispatching ruthless militia groups as a remedy for the never-ending insecurity under his tenure. These actions, which flout international laws and regional peace frameworks, are pushing the DRC deeper into the abyss of chaos, all while rendering Tshisekedi an eligible candidate for both regional and international sanctions.
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