Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi spoke at length in the columns of World on the situation in the east of the country where around a hundred armed groups are active, including the M23 rebellion actively supported by Rwanda, according to the UN. A new opportunity for the Congolese head of state to forcefully denounce Kigali’s involvement in the conflict. He also discusses private companies, the use of armed militias and the position of the international community.
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The first question from the interview with the French daily seems rather embarrassing. The world reminds the Congolese president of his electoral promise to declare war on Rwanda “ at the slightest skirmish » while since this declaration, the rebels of M23 continued to progress and now surround Goma, the capital of the North Kivu province. A question to which Felix Tshisekedi responds that there has been intense diplomatic activity, undoubtedly an allusion to the relaunch of mediation by Angolan President João Lourenço.
President Tshisekedi also mentions pressure on the DRC before warning. “ I don’t borrow » the path to peace by “ weakness, but it is the path of last chance, beyond which we will respond to skirmishes because we have the means “, he insisted.
In this interview, the president also discusses his refusal to negotiate with the M23 insurgents and his demand for direct talks with Rwandan President Paul Kagame. This will depend on the steps in progress, according to Félix Tshisekedi who still mentions the steps of the Angolan president.
“ Rwanda’s accomplice »
The French daily was also interested in the question of what could explain the lack of progress in Congolese military operations. On this subject, Félix Tshisekedi wanted to be reassuring. “ It is necessary to relativize », he said, assuring that “ this may be the case on certain axes but on others, we push them back », without further details.
Presence on the ground of “ two private foreign military companies » which its detractors describe as “ mercenaries ” and the use of wazalendos – the armed militias which he describes as “ valiant warriors » even if they recruit child soldiers – all these subjects were discussed. On the first, he replies that “mercenaries fight and are paid for it. While instructor companies build capacity on the ground.” And on the second, the president retorts: “ Some of them saw their parents being raped, others being massacred or beheaded. These are not people who think like you and me. Put yourself in their place for just a moment. They defend themselves with everything they have to do so. (…) You judge them by saying that there are international standards. But they are in such a state of mind that they no longer obey anything, including ourselves “.
And regarding the international community, he accuses it of being “ accomplice of Rwanda “, particularly in the plundering of Congo’s resources. And when The world asks him to name these countries, Félix Tshisekedi seems to kick in: “ I just remembered that Rwanda was not solely responsible for the misfortunes of the Congo “.
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