The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis. Less than 13% of the 11 million people in need were receiving assistance before January, with an alarming increase in cholera cases due to poor sanitation. The situation has deteriorated further, and civilians are struggling.
Regional leaders have expressed concerns about sustaining military missions to support the Congolese government. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) withdrew their stabilization mission over a year ago, citing a lack of appetite for continued casualties. The DRC’s Kinshasa government appears panicked and disorganized, fearing a coup.
Talks between the DRC government and the M23 rebel group were initially seen as an opportunity for de-escalation but have since stalled. European Union sanctions on Rwanda led to the M23’s withdrawal from talks. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda responded by severing diplomatic relations with Belgium, calling the sanctions “neo-colonial interference.”
A recent meeting between Kagame and DRC President Tshisekedi, mediated by Qatar, resulted in a ceasefire commitment. However, its implementation and monitoring remain unclear. The ongoing crisis highlights the need for meaningful solutions to address the DRC’s governance challenges and alleviate human suffering.
The current state of affairs has echoes of a new era of statecraft characterized by prioritizing security guarantees over humanitarian imperatives. This approach offers little promise for improving the DRC’s governance or addressing the plight of its people.
Source: https://www.cfr.org/blog/whats-next-democratic-republic-congo