Security:
- Defense experts for the East African Community (EAC) held a two-day meeting in Nairobi, Kenya to evaluate the current security situation in Eastern DRC and also propose new courses of action. Present were experts from Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, and Tanzania. While the strategies to fight the rebel groups especially M23 and ISCAP were not immediately revealed, the experts pointed out that Budgetary constraints are among the issues affecting plans to address the crisis.
- The EAC Heads of State 20th Extraordinary Summit was held in Bujumbura, Burundi on February 4, 2023. The main agenda for the summit was the volatile situation in DRC. The summit directed all troop-contributing countries to immediately deploy soldiers to the region under the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) umbrella.
- The summit maintained that despite ordering the full deployment of troops to Eastern DRC the crisis can only be sustainably resolved through a political process and emphasized the need to enhance the dialogue among all parties urging all parties to recommit to the process. Further, EAC member-states were urged to contribute to the Peace Fund to facilitate the peace process in DRC which is the newest member of the bloc.
- EACRF is expected to get stronger in the coming days once all pledged troops seconded to the body are deployed. The recent summit ordered that troop-contributing nations send troops post-haste.
- There were civil riots and protests against the EACRF for what was termed as a lack of pressure against the M23 rebel group that has been having a back-and-forth of occupying and withdrawing from the region in North Kivu. The protests were majorly triggered by a Nairobi communiqué that confirmed that the regional troops would, if necessary, use force to guarantee the withdrawal of M23 and other negative forces. But on the ground, there was no military pressure on the armed groups.
- M23 Rebels has managed to hold Kitchanga for more than a week from FARDC despite heavy shelling. Rebels also advanced to the outskirts of Sake on the road to Goma. This is despite the recent order by the EAC military chiefs for a full deployment. The M23 rebels continue to hold territory, attack positions, and even face off with the Congolese troops in the region.
- At least eight people were killed during the protest in Goma. The protesters expressed their anger at the “passivity” of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) which was deployed in Goma since November 2022 to help remove armed groups from North Kivu and Ituri and also to help stop the advances of the M23 rebels.
- A MONUSCO helicopter has been shot at as it approached Goma by enemy fire at Mt Nyiragongo AOR. The South African Military Oryx Helicopter was shot down; the pilot was killed while the co-pilot safely landed the aircraft. The helicopter was shot down by a suspected AA gun used against the aircraft by M23 Rebels or the rebel backers (largely the Rwandan military).
- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Christophe Lutundula the overall cost of financing are no less than 100 million US dollars, in six months which was disbursed to support the EARF in Goma. He further stated that there were funds received from Senegal which disbursed 1 million euros and Angola, $1 million.
- In Ituri province security continues to deteriorate as ISCAP continues to attack the civilian population, looting and killing the residents, especially in the Mambasa vicinity. It appears that the militants continue to exploit the fact that most of the military attention is on Goma fighting the Rwandan-backed rebels. This split attention has provided ISCAP with an opportunity to restock supplies.
- Further, the security situation in Ituri continues to be dire as militiamen of the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO) signed an incursion into the mining centers of Akwe and Mbidjo in Djugu territory, Ituri. This resumption of hostility is despite CODECO militiamen signing the act of peace and cessation of hostilities last year before the Military Governor of Ituri.
POLITICAL
- President Tshisekedi traveled to the Union of the Comoros where he held talks with President Azali Assoumani. The two presidents discussed several topics during their exchanges, including increasing bilateral cooperation, conflict with Rwanda, and the development of Comoros in the coming years. The visit could see DRC benefit in the future from increased support from the African Union seeing as Assoumani is tipped to take over the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU) from Senegal.
- Regional heads of state have called for an immediate ceasefire by all parties in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tensions there have grown amid talk of war as Congo and neighboring Rwanda trade allegations of backing armed rebels. The ceasefire call was issued in a communique at the end of the East African Community (EAC) summit in Burundi.
- The situation in DRC requires both the Nairobi and Luanda process to achieve cohesive and sustainable peace. While Nairobi focuses on armed groups, Luanda addresses the DRC-Rwanda political dimensions. The Nairobi Process calls for an immediate ceasefire, the repatriation of foreign militaries, and adherence by local armed groups to the newly established Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery, and Stabilization Program. It authorizes the deployment of a regional force in eastern DRC to confront those who don’t heed the disarmament call. On the other hand, Luanda addresses the DRC-Rwanda political dimensions; a reminder of the 2013 Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region, which has not been implemented.
- The attack by CODECO in Djugu territory in Ituri appears to coincide with the commencement of the voter registration process in the region. It is speculated that the attacks are politically motivated and geared at instilling fear among the voting populace by depriving them of their civic duty not to vote.
- Tshisekedi’s political popularity continues to dip even lower, especially as the nation prepares for elections later in the year. His detractors criticize his almost chaotic record in the security sector. He had pledged to eradicate insecurity in the eastern provinces of the country. But the massacres have not stopped.
ECONOMIC
- President Tshisekedi announced that the country aspires to be a key source of metals in the green energy transition. DRC has one of the world’s richest mineral deposits, including the world’s largest reserves of coltan and significant quantities of cobalt and lithium, both of which are in high demand on global markets for the green transition. He also said that Congo is on track to become the world’s leading supplier of metals for the green energy transition, which means that new exploration for metals such as nickel and chrome will begin.
- The French Development Agency (AFD) has decided to grant 41 million euros for construction work on the 6MW photovoltaic power plant. This plant will mainly provide lighting for the town of Kabinda in the province of Lomami.
