During a recent state visit by Guinean President Umaro Sissoco Embalo to Kinshasa, DRC’s Warmonger of a ruler Felix Tshisekedi once again pledged to end the long-standing conflict in eastern DRC.
He declared: “I will bring back peace, but true and lasting peace. After what you are seeing, there will no longer be any problem of instability in the DRC; that is my wish and my oath.”
But for many Congolese and observers of the region, these words ring hollow. Tshisekedi has made similar promises many times before. What has changed since he took office?
Has this thug ever prioritized peace over greed and power?
He already is disregarding the Doha and Washington peace agreements. His forces in collaboration with the genocidal FDLR and Wazalendo militia have continued their terror and look to provoke further instability.
In response, the M23 forces are hitting back against this aggression.
Wazalendo, a Kinshasa-sponsored militia has expressed frustration at being excluded from the Doha peace talks, facilitated by the United States. In retaliation, they’ve vowed to “escalate their operations”.
What a travesty!
Adding to the growing controversy, around 130 disarmed FARDC soldiers, FDLR fighters, and Congolese police were recently escorted by the ICRC from MONUSCO’s Goma base to Kinshasa. This raises troubling questions: Why is Tshisekedi continuing to work with groups like the FDLR, which have long been accused of fueling violence in the region?
Further complicating the picture is Belgium’s involvement. Once the colonial ruler of Congo, Belgium today continues to wield diplomatic influence. Belgian Foreign Affairs officials have cautioned Kinshasa to be wary of undermining the Doha and Washington peace efforts. Yet, Tshisekedi’s actions suggest these warnings have fallen on deaf ears.
To those who have followed Tshisekedi’s leadership, his current stance is not surprising, he benefits politically from the continued unrest and that peace is not truly in his interests.
As long as conflict continues, he can justify extended power, military actions, and the sidelining of opposition voices.
That’s his game plan.
ellenkampire