AFRICA

DR CONGO REBELS VOW TO TOPPLE TSHISEKEDI AS REGIONAL TENSIONS ESCALATE

DR CONGO REBELS VOW TO TOPPLE TSHISEKEDI AS REGIONAL TENSIONS ESCALATE
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Faith  Nyasuguta 

The M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have vowed to overthrow President Felix Tshisekedi’s government, intensifying their offensive in the country’s eastern region. After capturing Goma, the largest city in the east, the rebels, led by Corneille Nangaa, are reportedly advancing toward Bukavu. 

Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the rebels insist they will continue their march to the capital, Kinshasa.

Tshisekedi Vows Strong Response

In a televised address following the fall of Goma, President Tshisekedi pledged a “vigorous and coordinated response” to reclaim lost territories. Labeling the rebels as “terrorists”, he reaffirmed his government’s resolve to restore control.

“Be sure of one thing: the Democratic Republic of Congo will not let itself be humiliated or crushed. We will fight and we will triumph,” Tshisekedi declared.

Felix Tshisekedi /Yahoo/

The ongoing conflict has displaced over 500,000 people, worsening the already dire humanitarian crisis. Goma is struggling with severe shortages of electricity, water, and food since the escalation of hostilities last week.

On Thursday, Corneille Nangaa, the rebel leader of the Congo River Alliance (CRA), which includes M23 and other armed groups, asserted that the rebels were now Goma’s new administrators and would work to restore essential services.

We will continue the march of liberation all the way to Kinshasa,” Nangaa declared, despite skepticism about the feasibility of such an offensive. Analysts note that Kinshasa is 2,600 km (1,600 miles) away, and while a similar march succeeded in 1997 when Rwanda-backed forces ousted Mobutu Sese Seko, the situation today presents different challenges.

Rwanda’s Alleged Role 

Tshisekedi’s government has accused neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels and even deploying troops in Goma. While Rwanda denies direct involvement, it faces increasing international condemnation.

Rebel Leader Corneille Nangaa /BBC/

M23, a Tutsi-led rebel group, claims to be fighting for the rights of ethnic Tutsis in DRC. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, also a Tutsi, has long accused DRC of harboring Hutu militias responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide, further fueling tensions between the two nations.

Despite the presence of UN and SADC peacekeepers in eastern DRC, they failed to halt the rebel advance. Several peacekeepers have been killed in the conflict, with South African forces suffering the highest casualties,13 troops.

On Wednesday, Kagame escalated tensions with South Africa, responding to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s accusation that M23 and Rwandan forces were responsible for the deaths.

In a statement on X, Kagame dismissed Ramaphosa’s remarks, stating:

“If South Africa wants to contribute to peaceful solutions, that is well and good, but South Africa is in no position to take on the role of a peacemaker or mediator. And if South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day.”

This sharp exchange has further strained relations between Rwanda and South Africa, which have been fragile for years.

International Pressure and Aid Threats

The UN, the European Union, and major world powers, including the US and China, have called on Rwandan forces to leave DRC.

/Courtesy/

Meanwhile, donor countries such as the UK and Germany are reassessing their financial support for Rwanda due to the M23 offensive. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned that the UK’s £32 million ($40 million) annual bilateral aid could be suspended, while Germany has already canceled aid talks with Kigali.

The Path Forward

Southern African leaders are set to meet on Friday to discuss the crisis. Kagame has dismissed the regional force’s involvement, asserting that “it is not a peacekeeping force and has no place in this situation.” In contrast, Tshisekedi has expressed gratitude to the SADC soldiers and UN peacekeepers fighting alongside Congolese forces.

As diplomatic tensions rise and violence escalates, the conflict in eastern DRC remains a major regional and global concern, with no immediate resolution in sight.

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Faith Nyasuguta

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