Leaked intelligence dispatches from the Congolese intelligence (ANR) to CIA, the American intelligence service, have revealed that the south Kivu deputy director of intelligence, Kwalezitome Lilungi recommended to Kinshasa the weaponization of FDLR, Mai-Mai, Nyatura, CODECO, and mercenaries “to invade and overthrow the leadership in Rwanda.” In the leaked confidential document, Lilungi reports on what he claims the “complicity” of the Community of East African States (EAC) in the “balkanization of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).”
However, despite the fact that the recommendations and observations by Congolese intelligence were strongly criticized by a section of Congolese politicians – who believe that the intelligence service is trying to confuse public opinion – Tshisekedi agreed with the harebrained plot.
Following the recommendation by the national intelligence, while interacting with the youth in December last year, Tshisekedi piped up that “Rwandans needed his support to liberate themselves against leaders holding them back.” Tshisekedi has also made utterances aimed at tarnishing the image of the East African Regional Force (EACRF) at local and international forums, which shows he agrees with the national intelligence‘s radical and misguided stand on the conflict in the east of Congo.
Moreover, all indications are that Tshisekedi is working along the harebrained recommendations by radical senior leaders of the national intelligence. The Congolese ruler and his defense minister have embarked on a weapons shopping spree in different countries. He has also influenced the legislation of the law that makes the most notorious armed groups like FDLR, Nyatura, Mai-Mai, CODECO, and Wazalendo part of Congo’s formal security apparatus.
Although the leaked CIA documents do not detail Tshisekedi’s specific strategy for implementing his intelligence agency’s recommendations on “effecting regime change in Rwanda”, it is apparent that Tshisekedi imagines he can engineer “a regional implosion”, so as to create a diversion for his political incompetence. With elections fast approaching in DRC, Tshisekedi is gripped with debilitating anxiety because of the awareness that he has nothing tangible to show for his five years as president of DRC. He reasons that if he stirs chaos and conflict locally and regionally, this would allow him to stay in power without facing the humiliation of badly losing the upcoming elections.