The recent decision by the inept ruler of Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi to boot out Monusco, was not only unwise, rushed, but it is expected to put Congolese at greater risk of perpetual conflict, insecurity and political turmoil.
The record of UN peace keeping mission in DRC is definitely the most tainted, but Tshisekedi’s decision to chase them away was uncalled for, it is puerile and will leave his already shattered country naked than it was before. Simple, his unprofessional lousy FARDC cannot stand in Monusco’s feet.
Tshisekedi’s disorganised and unprofessional FARDC is not capable of protecting civilians. While Monusco’s prime mandate was protection of civilians mostly those in hostile environment, it is important to recall that many who found themselves between hostile and dangerous places did so because of FARDC.
The continued alliance of Tshisekedi’s national force and FDLR, a blacklisted terror and genocidal group is one of the worrying dangers facing Congolese population especially those in the eastern DRC which have been constant targets because of their ethnic origins. While Monusco pretended to provide a buffer to civilians as some would be killed in the mysterious way, there is no doubt Tshisekedi’s army which is the perpetrator will manage even to do little of what the UN peacekeepers were doing.
Tshisekedi’s demoralised, terribly equipped FARDC cannot fight, disarm, canton or desintegrate hundreds armed groups operating in Congo. Since the start of businesses in DRC by Monusco, the number of armed groups operating in Congo expanded to 275 according to different UN reports and some are direct partners of FARDC which deal with them in terms of arms trade and mineral extractions.
The departure of Monusco, whose tenure saw armed groups mushroomed into hundreds, there is a likely scenario that the rebel groups will multiply into thousands since the ungovernable DRC is not in the state of quelling the existing threats nor establish rentable security. The future of DRC under Tshisekedi regime will be more chaotic.
Tshisekedi’s corrupt regime is not capable of conducting institutional reforms aiming at bringing peace, unity and security in DRC like it was in the mandate of Monusco. Tasked to conduct overhaul changes that would transit DRC into a stable state premised on good governance, accountability and social transformation, Monusco’s departure will be a disaster to political stability of DRC.
Tshisekedi, who is currently serving the second term in office after elections marred by irregularities, chaos, violence, rigging and stealing of votes, is definitely not the right person to drive DRC in the desired institutional reforms. He is going to lead it further into abyss of despair, insecurity and rampant corruption.
Monusco itself has had its fair role destroying DRC, but its departure will wreck the country more into political turmoil, economic disaster and security chaos.
ellenkampire