Regional

DRC: Why Tshisekedi is investing heavily in Burundian troops

2023-12-13 05:30:00

Fearing possible hostilities that will follow the planned electoral coup, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has invested heavily in facilitating the training of Burundian troops that will ensure his protection.

The 60-year-old no longer trusts the Congolese national army.

With only seven days to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s polls, on December 20, the Congolese population is living in fear. Even Tshisekedi is not at peace. He left no stone unturned while plotting an electoral coup, and he knows the consequences are deadly.

Sources indicate that Tshisekedi sent 30 Romanian mercenaries from Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, to train 750 Burundian troops based at Mutukura training camp, Cankuzo Province, in eastern Burundi.

The mercenaries, who arrived there in mid-November, started training the Burundian troops in a range of combat tactics including how to operate drones and VIP protection.

There are good reasons why Tshisekedi does not trust his army. For one, corruption has, for decades, corroded the Congolese army to the point of affecting national security and territorial integrity. Congolese army commanders are well known for selling arms to militia groups they are supposed to fight, and reporting ghost numbers of military personnel to increase their monthly earnings.

For Tshisekedi, the Burundians are more trustful than his compatriots. He is investing millions of dollars in training Burundian troops to protect him, his family, and allies.

In the midst of a difficult campaign period, Tshisekedi started flying his family’s private properties out to Brussels as well as Dubai as he readies for the likelihood of a bloody exit after December 20. He is preparing himself for the deadly consequences of his plotted electoral coup in December 20 elections.

“Burundian troops will further assist Tshisekedi to repress his political opponents,” said a source from Lubumbashi, in Katanga Province, who preferred anonymity.

A secret bilateral defence pact signed in August by Tshisekedi and Burundi’s Évariste Ndayishimiye saw Gitega deploying over 6,000 soldiers to eastern DRC.

Tshisekedi planned such that as the polls approach, the main mission of all Burundian soldiers in DRC must be securing him, his allies, and voting centers.

After the polls and possible election-related violence, all the Burundian troops will be deployed in eastern DRC to support the Congolese army coalition in fighting M23 rebels.