Just picture eastern DRC, swimming with more than 10 armies from two or more regional blocs with different commands and operational procedures.
Now throw in MONUSCO, which is already on the ground and comprises thousands of troops under two commands. In the same area of eastern Congo are army contingents and regional, international, and bilateral agreements. If you add the notorious European mercenaries, the notorious Wazalendo armed groups, and FDLR, you have a potentially extremely, explosive situation.
While the international community and the entire region are banking on the Luanda and Nairobi peace frameworks, Tshisekedi has his eyes focused on the perpetuation of conflict because the thought of facing Congolese at the ballot scares the hell out of him.
On his recent futile ‘diplomatic offensive’ which saw him jet from Bujumbura direct to Windhoek and on to Gaberone, Tshisekedi made it clear he was not interested in the peaceful solution advocated by the US, UK, the EU, and regional leaders.
The warmonger gave the East African Regional Force (EACRF) one month to “show results” or pack and leave, reasoning that the SADC forces would fulfill his dream of scoring the military victory that eluded his forces supported by FDLR, Maimai, Nyatura, CODECO, PARECO, APCLS, and European mercenaries since last year.
Tshisekedi and his cronies are desperate to achieve a victory over the M23 Movement because only then can they earn bragging rights into the upcoming elections. Not that he is even interested in holding elections he knows for a fact that he won’t win.
But still, a victory over the Lions of Sarambwe, who have wiped the floor with his coalition of FARDC, mercenaries, FDLR, and over 120 armed groups at every battlefield encounter would boost his self-esteem and ego. But the jury is out there, whether regional forces are ready to blindly send their troops into a deathtrap just to grant Tshisekedi and his cartel a champagne moment.