In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), things are getting worse as President Felix Tshisekedi is about to be inaugurated. This was after President M23 said that their leaders were killed by the Congolese army in a surprise attack, breaking a ceasefire.
The rebels said that on January 16, 2024, the Kinshasa government attacked them, killing two commanders. They didn’t say who the commanders were. However, some reports say that a key person, Colonel Castro Elise Mberabagabo, was killed in a drone strike. He was important for getting money for the rebel group.
Another advisor, Colonel Erasto Bahati, was seriously hurt in the same attack. Despite these losses, M23 didn’t declare war on President Tshisekedi’s government, but they warned they would respond if provoked.
The Congolese army now has powerful drones from China, making it harder for the rebels who are used to guerrilla tactics. After the attack, the army joined forces with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to fight against M23. SADC plans to send 7,000 soldiers to defeat the rebels within a year.
Since M23 came back in 2021, many people have died, and more than 500,000 have had to leave their homes because of the violence. The DRC accuses Rwanda of helping M23, but Rwanda denies it. As President Tshisekedi is getting ready to be inaugurated, the situation in the region is tense, and there’s a risk of more fighting.
The situation soars as President Tchisekedi waits to be inaugurated for his second presidential term. On the campaign trail, Tshisekedi constantly attacked Rwanda and President Kagame, saying he had “expansionist aims” and comparing him with Hitler.
Speaking at a campaign rally, he promised Congolese voters to declare war on neighboring Rwanda if re-elected.
“I will request parliament and Congress to authorize a declaration of war. We will march on Kigali. Tell Kagame those days of playing games with Congolese leaders are over.” he said.
Since the resurgence of M23 in November 2021, the scale of violence in the DRC’s volatile east has increased. The mineral-rich region is home to more than 100 armed groups including M23 and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), fighting for dominance and brutally attacking civilians.
Some seven million people have been displaced by the violence. Dozens have died.
The DRC, which is one of the world’s poorest countries despite holding vast reserves of copper, cobalt, and gold, has a history of election-related violence.
At least 19 people were killed in election-related violence in the run-up to the vote. Tshisekedi’s election as president in 2018 was also marred by accusations of fraud. At least 34 people have been killed and 59 others wounded in protests related to the vote, according to the United Nations.