The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains unstable, particularly in the east of the country, where armed groups continue to sow terror. The establishment of the mission of the regional troops, which aims to defeat the elements of armed groups in the East of the DRC, seems to encounter obstacles.
In a press briefing held in Kinshasa, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Francophonie, Christophe Lutundula, expressed the position of the government of the Republic, which notes that the mission of the Regional Force is “offensive”, in accordance with the mandatory provisions of legal instruments. However, the Government of the Republic has found that some members of the Regional Force support the opposite of these provisions. On the ground, the EAC troops fraternize and coexist with the M23 terrorists in the territories declared cleared by the latter, which therefore does not correspond to the agreements concluded between the parties.
In addition, the mission of the regional troops of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) will be offensive, in order to support the DRC in its efforts to restore peace and security in the East of the country. The SADC Summit approved the deployment of a SADC Force, under the SADC Standby Force Framework to support the DRC. Angolan troops could enter through the province of Maniema. The Summit highlighted the unwavering support in the fight against armed groups in eastern DRC.
The security situation in the DRC is also deteriorating in other regions, hampering the development of agriculture and leading to soaring food prices in the affected regions.
However, in the Congolese population, the mobilization to challenge the authorities in the face of killings, rapes and attacks against political leaders is strong. However, the opposition is asking for the electoral register to be audited by a reputable international firm, considering that the choice of experts for the current audit is a “transparency scam”.
In short, the situation in the DRC remains worrying, with significant challenges to be met for the restoration of peace and stability in the country.