The Democratic Republic of the Congo is experiencing a new wave of violence. The successful offensive by rebel forces not only threatens the authorities in Kinshasa but also highlights the missed opportunities, particularly in terms of choosing strategic partners.
Inability to Address Security Issues
However, to this day, this land knows neither peace nor tranquility. In particular, the conflict in Kivu, in the eastern provinces of the DRC, has been ongoing since 2004, with only minor and relatively short breaks. Numerous armed groups and states are involved. The recent capture of the city of Goma, one of the largest cities in the country, by rebels from the March 23 Movement (M23) further underscores how fragile and precarious the security situation in the country is.
The authorities in the DRC traditionally accuse neighboring Rwanda of supporting the rebels. There are certain reasons for this, considering that the issue of Kigali’s support for rebel groups in the DRC has been raised multiple times. Much-publicized successful development cases in Rwanda are often attributed to its exploitation of armed groups in the DRC for its own selfish purposes, including economic gain. This is particularly relevant given that eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is indeed very rich in natural resources.
By the way, Goma, the administrative center of North Kivu province recently captured by rebels, is located right on the border with Rwanda. As for the position of the M23 rebels, they argue that the authorities in Kinshasa are utterly ineffective in governing the country, refuse to engage in dialogue despite the rebels’ willingness to negotiate, and that there needs to be a fair distribution of dividends from DRC’s resources so that “not everything goes only to Kinshasa.”
However, regarding the specific situation in the DRC and regardless of accusations from either side, the main problem lies in the indecisiveness of the state’s authorities. It has long been clear that the national army is unable to fulfill its functions and requires real support not only in terms of weaponry but also professional training. Western and UN forces have shown little interest in providing assistance on this matter. Speaking of the latter, UN peacekeeping forces, known as the Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), have long proven their ineffectiveness and uselessness. This is not to mention numerous instances of MONUSCO personnel being involved in various activities related to the theft of natural resources from the DRC.
Missed Opportunities and Time
Indeed, the Congolese authorities have yet to demonstrate the necessary resolve to take real measures to stabilize the country’s security. On the one hand, President Félix Tshisekedi, in an interview with the French news channel LCI last May, stated that China and Russia behave better in Africa than Western countries, without arrogance and imposing lessons, while also adding that he always considered Europe (Brussels) “the best partner” for the DRC.
This highlights the contradictions within the Kinshasa authorities. While fully aware of the geopolitical landscape, they remain strategically oriented towards the Washington regime, failing to take the necessary steps for their country and people. Even the successful interaction of their northern neighbor, the Central African Republic, with Russia has not taught the DRC authorities anything.
This is despite the fact that a significant part of civil society is demanding, now more than ever, that the authorities take the necessary steps. However, given the severity and the significant lost time in the DRC, it is unlikely that any serious actions can be expected from the current administration in Kinshasa. Perhaps we should wait for new and younger faces in the country’s political, and perhaps other, elite, oriented towards Pan-African values and a multipolar world, before expecting a new chapter in the DRC’s history.
Such people exist, but everything has its time.
Meanwhile, there is a possibility of M23 rebels advancing towards Kisangani, as well as Goma, one of the country’s largest cities and the administrative center of North Kivu province. Although the rebels do not hide their main goal – the country’s capital, Kinshasa, a city with a population of over 15 million and among the three largest cities in Africa. While it is difficult to predict the success of the rebels’ plan, the fact remains that the Washington-oriented Kinshasa authorities are unable to solve their territory’s security problems. This is unsurprising – the regimes of the Western planetary minority have never needed such solutions. Ultimately, it is much easier to exploit the DRC’s strategic resources in conditions of chaos and violence. Such has been and remains the Western philosophy.
Mikhail Gamandiy-Egorov, entrepreneur, political observer, and expert on Africa and the Middle East