Why the Congo’s wide army struggles to fight M23

Soldiers are underground and slowed down. It is expelled in its ranks with the fractions that continue their interests. And consecutive presidents are said to be weak for the fear of the coup.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, in recent weeks, the eastern part of the country appeared very weak and dysfunctions to stop a militia. M23, a militia, two major cities, two strategic airports and two strategic areas and Congole.

President Felix Tshisekedi, tried to prepare for the moment, strengthened thousands of warriors to the east of the military. However, this answer was collapsed on the face of M23, Mr. Thisman, increasingly isolated, internal support evaporates, and peace talks with regional forces have no strong international support.

According to the United Nations, according to the troops, the troops are ripe, armed and are developed with rebels and are supported by a smaller neighbor. Rwanda admitted that the troops are in Congo, but refused to control M23.

“There are two sides of this conflict,” he said, executive director Fred Bauma Will beInstitute of Congolese Research. “One of Rwan’s support is up to M23. The other is the domestic weaknesses of the Congole government.”

In Last meeting with the New York TimesThe President of the President said the problem of the army was accused of his predecessor to fail to solve the problem of foreigners and resolved.

“My predecessor spent 18 years from rebuilding the army,” Mr. Tshisekedi. “When we started overhaul and restructuring in 2022, it was immediately attacked by Rwanda, as if they wanted to prevent reforms.”

During the last month, these attacks were accelerated, and the Congolese army and his allies lost the fight after the battle within European mercenaries or armed groups known as Wazalendo or Patriots.

M23, surrounding the city of Uvira, and pushes to a new area by going both north and south. In Bukavuda, Congolese soldiers withdrew back in long columns before M23, even attacked the city.

After a battle for the city of Goma, the M23 warriors loaded hundreds of captive trucks and dropped from the city to prepare. There are also police officers handed over Joined Masse and M23 for a rebel spokesman. Congolese soldiers and their Wazalendo allies opened each other often, access to places accused of fought and bribery.

Nabelli giant

On paper, Congo seems well placed to deal with threats from a smaller neighbor. Experts estimate that this is between 100,000 and 200,000 soldiers from Rwanda or M23.

However, Congolese was known for a long time to weakness and corruption.

Unrepaired soldiers often increase their income from Meltion by force civilians in hundreds of people of the Congo unfoundationThe most lucrative, $ 900 per day, can repeatedly pull a soldier’s monthly salary.

Today’s subordinates – or additional salaries, only for ghost employees available on paper – in a long-term parcel and abuse system. Troops do not have a truck for transport and often motorcycle taxis than placing them instead.

“The army really works as a group of armed,” said a researcher on peace and violence at the Danish Institute of International Studies by paying attention to Central Africa.

To know this, Mr. Tshisekedi tried to strengthen the army. In 2023, he increased the military budget to $ 371 million – even if the dwarf Rhooka is $ 171 million, but only 1 percent of the total domestic product of both countries.

Some money spent on better weapons. Recently Congo bought From China, as well as the attacks of control and attack aviation From the South African Defense Company. Also spent $ 200 million Over a regional force taken in South African troops.

But “the growing ability is not something that can happen in one night,” said Stockholm Nan Tian in the International Peace Research Institute.

On the other side of the conflict, M23 is supported by 4,000 well-developed and well-developed, well-developed, well-developed, well-developed in the Eastern Congo in the Eastern Congo.

Rwanda, the President, which began after the 1994 genocide, is firmly monitored by Paul Kagame. His strength and brooks were no opposition; The government says that the vote has earned 98 and 99 percent in the last two presidential elections.

Roots of the brittle of the Congo

Congo is the largest people of Sahara Africa. The most part of it is remotely and cut and the state is or not or predators. More than 100 armed groups are active and sinners are almost abusing the impunity.

The roots of the brittle of the Congo deepen. After the decades of the colonialism of Belgium, weak institutions and very little developed. Then, after independence, the United States and Belgium supported Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, and later a kleptocratic, which managed for about three decades, helped to rescue the SeesCocrates. In 1997, the Civil War Mobut was overturned; His successor laurent Kabila was killed four years later.

Mr. Tshisekedi never gave a lot of popularity among the people. After his father’s death, one of the most advanced politicians, he undertook his party and the winner of the government in 2018, almost said that he was the winner of the election defeat.

2023 Although the power of the elections, Voter turnout was the lowest country since independence. The Catholic Church, which has a long history watching the Congo’s elections, accused the national election commission chaired by the “election disaster.”

Since then, Mr. Tichekedi, a tactic that several African leaders want to change the constitution and use it to stay in power.

However, these plans were met with considerable opposition. Experts are careful of his position and the military failures in the east are still weaker. Kinshasa, the capital, people are concerned about managing its security forces and fear possible.

Mr. Tshizekedi said he would reach the opposition and shape the government of the Union.

Peace talks

Several diplomatic tries to solve the crisis in the Eastern Congo refused to give up twice in peace talks with Mr. Thizisekedi.

Congolese Church leaders are trying to organize the final stage of negotiations and meet Mr. Kagame and several Congolese opposition figures. Mr. Thizisekedi wanted to talk to M23, Mr. Kagame insists.

So far, Mr. Tshismedi refused to meet directly from M23. But he seems to be weakened by his position, as his stall.

The conflict caused the death of more than 7,000 Konangli citizens since January, the UN. It was buried without determination of about 2,500, the Prime Minister of the Congo, this was reported by the United Nations in the last week.

Participating in South Africa fighting M23, Malawi ordered the withdrawal of troops to withdraw after three people in January.

Other regional players benefit from the lack of impact on the sensitivity of the Congo and the influence of foreign forces to develop their interests. Uganda recently threatened to attack Congole Bunia, if “all forces” did not handle their weapons. According to UNHCR, UN specialists, Uganda supported M23.

Without a strong army, Mr. Thizisekedi, hoping to return to Rwanda continued to apply to the world. In the event of an attack in 2012, the international condemnation caused the support of the armed group to Rwandaya, and eventually lost. This time there is a widespread criticism, but there is no sign that he intends to return to Rwanda.

Ruth Maclean Dakar, Senegal and Guerchom ndebo Democratic Republic of Congo from Goma.