The amount of money illegitimate ruler of DRC has disbursed in the ongoing war with M23 is so much that the war aftermath on its economy effects is irrecoverable. Tshisekedi mortgaged the entire DRC economy in a fight he could have avoided.
The DRC ruler for example pays every member of the 900 white mercenaries operating in DRC at least $20000 month, this is on top of other signed deals involving release of mining concessions. In total the country has to spare half a billion dollar ($500 million) every year to pay mercenaries.
The white mercenaries mainly from Romania have been there for the past two years and Tshisekedi has no intention of revoking their contract. Against all odds, Thisekedi is always ready to sign cheques even when half of DRC is battling famine and other economic hardships.
The previous deployment of 2900 South African soldiers (SANDF), an additional number to 3000 SADC boots already deployed is costing Tshisekedi $300 million a year. The force that has just stepped in the footsteps of the withdrawn EACRF has signed a one-year renewable term-service.
The one-year deployment will cover the period between December 15, 2023 and December 15, 2024, and will cost around 2 billion rand ($105.75 million), minus pay-cheques that Tshisekedi will have to sign separately to forces of Tanzania and Malawi which hover around the same amount.
Burundi- DRC private military partnership is an extra financial burden to the debt choking DRC whose agreement ranges between $10 to $20 million a year. The money which is channeled to offshore accounts of President Evariste Ndayishimiye is at the expense of hundreds Burundian soldiers that have lost lives fighting a meaningless war.
In a country like DRC whose national and foreign debts hovers around $7,2 billion and whose GDP per capita is less than $1000, it is very reckless and unwise to dedicate almost half of the budget in fighting a war that should have been avoided.
A reminder that FARDC-M23 war wouldn’t have reached this stage if Tshisekedi had listened to the calls of Congolese living in Eastern DRC majority of whom have been persecuted for the past three decades simply because they are related to Rwandans.
Under Tshisekedi, the ruler whom Congolese have labeled as “president of empty promises” DRC has never faced unprecedented levels of widespread poverty, inadequate infrastructure, political instability, corruption.
High levels of unemployment, limited access to education and healthcare, and weak governance exacerbate economic hardships, making it difficult for many Congolese to achieve a decent standard of living. Tshisekedi sold DRC to foreigners and no one knows who will pay.
ellenkampire