Are we moving towards a peace of the brave in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)? This is the question that more than one observer is asking, given the evolution of the situation on the ground. Indeed, even if it is not yet complete, the withdrawal of the M23 from its positions began some time ago. The rebellion withdrew from three towns in Masisi, namely Mushaki, Kilolirwe and Kitshanga. And that’s not all. The rebels also agreed to leave Bunagana, which they had occupied for several months. As for the positions still occupied, they have undertaken to free them by mid-April at the latest. All this information was confirmed by the EAC’s mandated mediator, the former Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta, who, given the progress made on the ground, pleads for the integration of the M23 in the negotiation process. Selected excerpt: “These developments signal that more armed groups are now complying with the Nairobi process and are therefore increasingly likely to be all brought into the political track…”. For the Kenyan facilitator, insofar as the M23 has respected the commitments made to the international community not only by ceasing hostilities, but also by recording its withdrawal from some of its positions, there is no reason to excluded from the Nairobi process. Only, will he be heard by Kinshasa? The question remains.
This is the opportunity or never to work to find a lasting politico-diplomatic solution.
Especially since no later than April 3, the spokesperson for the Congolese government reaffirmed the position of the authorities, who reject any possibility of negotiating with the M23, which they consider to be a “terrorist” group. Suffice to say that the task of the Kenyan mediator, so to speak, promises to be arduous and titanic. It will be difficult to bring together the different parties in conflict. Unless, taking stock of the situation and aware that the same causes always produce the same effects, President Félix Tshisékedi agrees to come down from his pedestal by reaching out to the M23. Any other posture will only bring together the conditions for a next future explosion with all the consequences that go with it. As proof, if following being defeated militarily in 2013, the M23 resumed arms a decade later, it is because certain fundamental problems raised had not been resolved. Kinshasa had been wrong to believe that one can solve by arms a problem with political overtones. In any case, this is the opportunity or never to work to find a lasting politico-diplomatic solution to the serious security crisis in the eastern part of the DRC. For this, Kinshasa will have to beware of any triumphalism at the risk of seeing the ongoing process derailed, which is already producing encouraging results.
B.O
