The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, recently declared during a television program that the military front against the aggression of Rwanda and its M23 proxies would be the last option after all diplomatic efforts.
In this special broadcast, organized by the Presidency of the Republic, Félix Tshisekedi answered more than 5,000 questions from Congolese on various topics of national news. One of the major concerns related to the evolution of the steps taken to pacify the eastern DRC, both diplomatically and militarily.
President Tshisekedi asserted that diplomacy remained his priority, but that the Congolese army was also ready to act if Rwanda and the M23 did not respond to demands for pacification. He stressed the importance of maintaining diplomatic relations with Rwanda while exerting pressure to end the aggressive actions of armed groups.
The Congolese president also spoke of the growing strength of the Congolese defense and security forces, encouraging the government to maintain its efforts to deter any belligerent attempt on Congolese territory.
This declaration bears witness to Felix Tshisekedi’s determination to resolve the security problems in eastern DRC, by first favoring the diplomatic route but without excluding military intervention if necessary. It thus emphasizes the need to preserve peace and bilateral relations while ensuring the defense of the country’s sovereignty.
This balanced approach reflects President Tshisekedi’s desire to face the challenges facing the DRC, using all available means to maintain security and stability in the country. Diplomacy remains the tool of choice, but military preparation is also a reality to deal with external aggression.
In conclusion, Félix Tshisekedi puts forward diplomacy as the first option to solve the security problems in the East of the DRC, but he also underlines the determination of the Congolese army to act if necessary. This approach aims to preserve the stability of the country while maintaining diplomatic relations with its neighbors.