DRC: President Tshisekedi criticizes the action of the regional force deployed in the east of the country

"If, in June, we consider that the mandate is not fulfilled, we will decide to accompany and thank these contingents who came to the rescue of the DRC," said Felix Tshisekedi (our illustration photo). © Arsène Mpiana / AFP

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2 min

DRC President Felix Tshisekedi is not satisfied with the execution of the mandate of the regional force of the Community of African States (EAC). He said so publicly yesterday, Tuesday, May 9, during a press conference in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, where the Congolese president is staying as part of his chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

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With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi

Felix Tshisekedi has been very severe towards the regional force. During his press conference, he revealed that the Congolese government has only extended the mandate of the EAC regional force by three months, half the duration requested by the Secretary General of the East African Community. This three-month deadline already expires in June 2023.

Moreover, it is not clear that the mandate of this regional force will once again be extended. "If, in June, we consider that the mandate is not fulfilled, we will decide to accompany and thank these contingents who came to the rescue of the DRC," said the Congolese head of state.

« Cohabitation in certain areas »

Felix Tshisekedi notes and disapproves of what he calls "cohabitation in certain areas" between the M23 and contingents of the EAC force. "It wasn't planned like that," he told the media. The pattern, he recalls, was known: ceasefire, withdrawal and cantonment of M23 fighters.

Nor did he appreciate the comments of some leaders of troop-contributing countries who claimed that their contingents were not tasked with fighting the M23. Felix Tshisekedi also did not hide his surprise to see Kenya present a new commander of the regional force without prior consultation. They acted, he said, "as if the regional force belonged only to Kenya."

>> READ ALSO: Eastern DRC: the Southern African Community commits to deploy troops

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