Since Congolese ruler Felix Tshisekedi took office in 2019, his regime has leaned heavily on foreign mercenaries to manage security and serve his political interests. This misguided strategy has not only failed but has also deepened the DRC insecurity.
The humiliating defeat of over 300 mercenaries by the M23 rebels in Goma earlier this year is just the latest example of this failure. Before that, thousands of foreign fighters operated freely in the DRC, often with little to show for their presence.
The Tshisekedi regime has spent at least USD 10 million in a single month to sustain over 2,000 mercenaries, some earning as much as USD 8,000 per month. Despite this staggering expenditure, these forces have done little to stabilize the country. Their presence in the DRC was a damning reflection of a regime that chose to enrich foreign guns willingly forgetting to empower its own people.
Worse still, this reliance on mercenaries has come at the cost of rebuilding the national army, the FARDC. Under Tshisekedi’s watch, the FARDC has suffered from chronic neglect, riddled with corruption and incompetence. Fake soldiers, ghost names on payrolls, and collusion with rebel groups in illegal mining and looting have become common.
As the national army rots from within, ordinary Congolese citizens suffer the consequences. They endure death, displacement, theft, persecution, and rampant sexual violence. The absence of a professional, well-equipped, and accountable national force has left them defenseless.
Tshisekedi’s dependence on foreign guns is a strategic failure as it is a betrayal to Congolese people and the region at large.
No nation can outsource its security and expect peace while ignoring its own institutions.
Africa must learn from this. Security cannot be bought or borrowed. It must be built through strong national armies, accountable leadership, and a commitment to self-reliance.
ellenkampire