M23 will not capture Goma,if Rwanda continues with its aggression,we will defend ourselves,remember that the wazalendo are diplomats!! Assures Tshisekedi!!

 

The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo gave an interview to  RFI-France 24 published on the night of Thursday, November 17, 2023. Candidate for his own succession for a second term in the presidential elections on December 20, Tshisekedi raised several issues including the security situation in the east of the DRC, particularly clashes between the Wazalendo and the pro-Rwandan M23 rebellion, support from Rwanda and did not exclude all possibilities. 

1.Open war with Rwanda: 

Tshisekedi does not exclude it “I do not exclude any scenario, we are victims. We do not have to look in this direction, we must rather look towards those who are guilty of this aggression,” says the supreme commander of the armed forces of the DRC. For several months, the Tshisekedi regime used several means to denounce Rwanda's aggression. Reports have been published and several members of the government are taking advantage of every platform in diplomatic and political salons to obtain sanctions against Rwanda. If some results are palpable, including the call for de-escalation sent to Rwanda, on the political and diplomatic level, there are almost no sanctions against Kigali, which visibly exacerbates Kinshasa. “After having repeatedly called on the international community to intervene with sanctions against Rwanda, if this is slow to come, we will protect ourselves. We will use our own means to protect our population... how can we do it other than with weapons? » For the Congolese president, the M23 is only an empty shell whose ranks are swollen by the Rwandan armed forces (RDF) to fight the DRC. “The Wazalendo are patriots,… it is not a crime” Several voices among diplomats denounce the clashes between the Wazalendo and the M23 on several axes both in the territory of Nyiragongo and those of Masisi and Rutshuru. According to the President of the DRC, they are only patriots trying to defend their country: “The Wazalendo are patriots, initially civilians. People who decided to defend the interests of their communities body and soul, because before they had no confidence in the army. It’s heroic,” said Félix Tshisekedi. “Where the FARDC can support them if they are in their fold, the order is given to support them. I don’t hide it because it’s not a crime they’re committing. They protect their homeland with reason and courage,” indicates the head of state. 

2.Goma: last red line not to be crossed.

 “They will not take Goma, remember, they will not take Goma” said the president. In a meeting with several diplomats in Kinshasa, his Minister of Foreign Affairs Christophe Lutundula said in his name and swore that “if a single bullet falls on Goma, even by mistake, we will respond in the most fierce manner. » Everything is clear in the language of Kinshasa. There is no question that Goma will fall into the hands of the M23 and its allies. The latest clashes between the FARDC and the M23 around Kibumba rather show the desire of the M23 to push Kinshasa to negotiate, because until now the rebellion's requests for negotiations have remained dead letters to the Congolese government. It is therefore a red line between the two parties, and no analyst can predict what will happen in the weeks or months to come.