The security crisis in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is compounded by a serious crisis of confidence between the authorities and the troops in East Africa. The Congolese Head of State, Félix Tshisekedi, recently expressed his frustration over the ineffectiveness of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) deployed on the ground since November 2022.
For the Congolese president, the regional force must definitively leave the Congolese territory, next June, if the results of its mission are not satisfactory. This declaration reinforces the hypothesis of a withdrawal of the Kenyan, Ugandan, Burundian and South Sudanese contingent. Many voices are indeed raised to demand the departure of these troops, also accused of collaborating with the M23 rebels.
These tensions demonstrate the need to seek a lasting political solution to the security crisis and to favor a coordinated approach to restore peace and security in the east of the country. Théo Mawunu, expert in international politics, underlines the complexity of the situation in the DRC. “The region is a crossroads of many geopolitical and social issues, which have exacerbated conflicts and tensions. It is essential to re-establish a dialogue between local actors and international partners in order to provide concrete responses to this major challenge facing the DRC. »
President Tshisekedi, who is suffering from a decline in popularity in certain regions of the DRC, also took the opportunity to send a clear message to public opinion: he is intransigent on the question of security and he will not hesitate to take strong measures if the regional forces present on Congolese territory do not fulfill their mission.
Beyond the security crisis, the DRC must face other challenges, particularly economic and humanitarian. Despite some encouraging signs, such as improving economic growth, the country still faces a persistent humanitarian crisis. It is therefore urgent to find concrete and lasting solutions to meet the basic needs of the Congolese population.
Finally, it is important to emphasize that the DRC is a country with abundant natural resources and that it has considerable economic potential. The Congolese authorities must work with international partners to put in place a sustainable economic development strategy that benefits the entire population. This implies better governance and an increased fight against corruption, as well as an increased mobilization of private and public investments in favor of the economic development of the DRC.
In short, the DRC must meet many challenges to achieve political, economic and social stability.. It is therefore crucial to continue to mobilize all local and international actors to find concrete and lasting solutions to meet the needs of the Congolese population and guarantee peace and security in the east of the country.