Africa Intelligence, a website that relays news and analysis on economic, political, and military issues in Africa, has published an article concerning the worrying financial situation of the SADC bloc states. The dire financial situation of SADC has already affected their operations in Mozambique (under the acronym SAMIM) where they sent military contingents to fight terrorism. The website says that because SAMIM depends only on contributions from its member states, it has for some time experienced financial difficulties following the challenges faced by many SADC States resulting from the global economic upheavals.
This is happening at a time when the bloc is in the middle of sending troops to eastern DRC, where they are expected to spend an unspecified period, at the invitation of the Kinshasa regime. On the other hand, Tshisekedi’s only intention is to use the troops as mercenaries in his personal vendetta against the M23 movement – which fights to defend DRC’s Tutsi citizens against a campaign of genocide against them by the Kinshasa regime, and to preserve their rights as citizens of the country.
The question now remains whether a) SADC will allow itself to be an accomplice in genocide, and b) whether it’s able to sustain an arbitrarily offensive mandate in eastern DRC – exactly what Tshisekedi wants them to do.
By the look of things, the deployment might not happen as envisaged by Tshisekedi, considering that many of the SADC states have already categorically stated that they would not be participating. It is already known that the Kinshasa regime cannot fund the SADC operation since they have been struggling to fund their recurrent budget, like payment of civil servant salaries.
Tshisekedi has no other option but to accept that the East African Community, and the ICGLR peace framework is the only way forward. If he decides to calm down and listen to wise counsel, he will have to be contented with what the East African Regional Force is doing and will be supportive of their efforts and have trust in the peace framework.
This way, there could be a chance for peace in eastern Congo.