The recent reshuffle within the Congolese military (FARDC) and realignment of government positions by Tshisekedi couldn’t explain better why favoritism and sectarianism reign supreme in DRC, and why M23 movement has taken arms to fight for survival of the marginalized Congolese.
From the appointment of Lt. General Christian Tshiwewe Songesha as FARDC new Chief of Staff; the appointment of his deputy Brigadier General Tshitambwe Chico who doubles as the in-charge of operations and intelligence, to the appointment of Brigadier General John Tshibangu, the commandant of 21st brigade tasked to handle M23 in the Eastern DRC, it is very clear Tshisekedi is making Luba tribe the most supreme in Congo.
The consolidation of power through military Luba tribesmen by Tshisekedi has been done concurrently with appointment of similar tribesmen in charge of high institutions like “Gecamine” in charge of DRC mineral resources, Finance Ministry, Judiciary, legislative and to the far extent advisory board at the office of the President.
As Tshisekedi concludes his first term in office, one cannot fail but to point out that he has been nothing but a worse replica of his predecessors. From how Mobutu crowned his cronies in the Ng’bandi tribe or how Kabila did the same with his fellow Luba people, Tshisekedi followed their footsteps arrogantly, even when he promised a different Congo.
The prevailing sectarianism as demonstrated in the current failing regime of Tshisekedi and his cronies, cannot justify better why M23 has taken up arms and fight for the marginalized section of Congolese. The same Congolese Tshisekedi has not only looked down upon, but went as far as denying them rights to citizenship, persecuted them in the most gruesome manner and made them refugees for decades.
Time is now for Congolese to realize that Tshisekedi has not been the Messiah they wanted, against all the promises he made when he stepped into office in 2019, he plunged DRC into deeper abyss of insecurity at the same time plundering national resources at an industrial scale. It is time to join M23 once and for all, free Congo from shackles of political malaise and rampant insecurities.