Since Monday, the streets of Uvira, Goma, Bukavu, and now Rutshuru have been filled with protestors demanding the AFC-M23 movement to not withdraw from the liberated territories.
The demonstrations erupted after communities in Uvira were once again caught in the violence and terror of Tshisekedi’s coalition of FARDC, FDLR, FDNB, and Wazalendo. The attacks began immediately after the M23 withdrew, which it did to support the peace process.
Adding to their frustration is the decision to extend the mandate of MONUSCO in eastern DRC. For many residents, this feels like a return to the same cycle of abandonment they have endured for decades.
Across these regions, people are speaking with one voice. They fear living under the Tshisekedi coalition because they know the abuses they suffered before. At the same time, they openly acknowledge the stability they experienced in areas under M23 administration.
One resident of Nyiragongo put it plainly: “Under Tshisekedi’s rule, I was robbed several times by FARDC elements. Today, I do not even lock my door before I sleep.”
Another protestor sent a message to Uvira: “We ask our brothers to reject any withdrawal of the AFC/M23. Tell the movement to move forward and take the whole country because we have suffered enough.”
These voices come from people who have lived through the destruction. They are survivors of the mayhem that Tshisekedi’s forces have brought into their daily lives. When they speak, the world should pay attention.
The people have also made something else clear. There can be no peace from MONUSCO, which has failed them for years and continues to fail today.
Communities across eastern DRC are drawing their own conclusion. They are speaking from lived reality. The M23 movement has brought order and protection in the areas it controls. That is why these protests are more than street marches. They have become a civilian referendum against every failed security strategy imposed on the region.
What is happening in Goma, Uvira, Bukavu, and Rutshuru is a direct message from the people themselves. They are telling the world what works and what does not. It is time to listen.