As the Congolese incumbent ruler hits the campaign trail, Tshisekedi is exploiting all avenues to justify his failure to deliver on his manifesto. The M23 token serves well his purpose to divert the Congolese population from his acute failures in his first term in office.
The M23 is purely a Congolese rebel group fighting for a legitimate cause. The March 23 Movement, popularly known as M23 is a Congolese rebel group born as a consequence of Congolese political decay. Like the name suggests, the rebel group was formed after the Kinshasa government reneged on the agreement signed between the government and CNDP (their predecessor) which aimed at ending the persistent persecution of Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese.
Up to this day, many Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese are still scattered in different refugee camps in the region.
Tshisekedi’s mission of labeling M23 an invading force is a fool’s errand. Since the beginning of the M23 armed struggle against the Kinshasa regime, Tshisekedi has labored to portray them as an invading force in order to divert the Congolese population from his acute failures. However, everyone, including Tshisekedi himself, knows for a fact that the M23 are mostly former Congolese military officers and men who chose the military avenue after Tshisekedi blocked all other means.
Therefore, it is brazenly hypocritical and dishonest for Tshisekedi to call the M23 “an empty shell” supported by an army from a neighboring country.
The party with a noble cause will carry the day. The M23 rebels group is fighting for a cause that Tshisekedi and regional leaders recognize as legitimate. Truth and legitimacy will always triumph, no matter the odds presented against them.