Congolese opposition figure Jean-Marc Kabund has strongly criticized the Congolese government’s narrative on the security crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to him, portraying the instability in the region as being caused solely by the M23 rebellion is misleading and dishonest.
“The government wants to make national and international opinion believe that the only problem we have in the East of the country is called M23. That is completely false,” Jean-Marc Kabund stated.
Eastern DRC plagued by several deadly armed groups
The former First Vice-President of the National Assembly argues that the reality on the ground is far more complex. He stresses that several armed groups continue to kill civilians and destabilize provinces such as Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.
Jean-Marc Kabund specifically mentioned:
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the ADF, accused of carrying out repeated massacres against civilians;
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the CODECO, responsible for deadly intercommunal violence in Ituri;
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as well as other local and foreign militias operating across the region.
According to him, focusing exclusively on the AFC/M23 allows the authorities to conceal the broader failure of the government’s security policy and the state’s inability to effectively protect civilians.
Call for an honest assessment of the security crisis
The opposition leader calls for a sincere and comprehensive diagnosis of the security crisis in eastern DRC. He believes that lasting peace can only be achieved if all root causes of insecurity are acknowledged and addressed, without political bias or selective communication.
“As long as those in power continue to lie to the people by pointing to only one enemy, Congolese citizens will keep dying in silence,” he warned.
A political stance with national implications
Jean-Marc Kabund’s statement comes at a time of escalating violence by armed groups and growing pressure from public opinion on the government. His message resonates strongly with communities in eastern DRC, who have long denounced chronic insecurity and the absence of sustainable solutions.
Joshmishumbi