Since yesterday Tshisekedi and members of his government have been in puerile celebrations that the US is coming for their rescue. This followed the visit of the State Department Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos.
The excitement of the Congolese political class and their social media noisemakers is, to say the least, so characteristic of who they are: an utterly unserious mob. Tshisekedi as the whole world knows has offered to auction DR Congo to America, in return for “protection”.
How can people cheer the auctioning of their nation to another country, except Tshisekedists?
According to media reports from the DRC, both Tshisekedi and Boulos have agreed to strategic mineral deals and discussed modalities through which the insecurity in Eastern DRC might be resolved. In a typical Congolese delusion of grandeur, they believe that Trump will abandon American issues to start acting as enforcer for Tshisekedi.
Laughable doesn’t describe it.
Tshisekedi proposed to Boulos that his country is willing to surrender a large portion of its mineral concessions if the U.S. would deploy its military to fight M23. But then, to that bizarre proposal, the American diplomat simply responded, “We will see what is possible”— a polite way of saying no!
So, what on earth are those celebrations in Kinshasa for?
Let’s also remember, Trump has a deep-seated revulsion for Congo. He once referred to Congolese as “criminals all”. As of yesterday, he imposed trade tariffs on goods from the DRC – an additional 20 percent on top of existing taxes.
Boulos, who is also visiting Kigali, Kampala, and Nairobi, is expected to submit a comprehensive report on his tour to the U.S. Department of State before the Trump administration decides on a course of action regarding Eastern DRC. It is telling of the childishness of the Tshisekedists that they believe nothing else matters but the US official’s visit to Kinshasa.
Typical delusions.