Ladies and gentlemen, defenders of justice, and voices of reason in the Great Lakes Region, let us begin with an analogy as sharp as the pain endured by those abandoned in refugee camps and conflict zones. Let us begin with a reflection on human development. Toddlers, as they waddle through their early years, are forgiven for their tantrums, their impulsivity, and their inability to discern danger. Try to imagine a toddler—not just any infant, but one perpetually trapped in tantrums, without regard of its surroundings, and constantly blaming others for its blunders. This toddler stumbles, breaks its toys or cups, and screams, “It wasn’t me!” But the tantrum doesn’t stop there. It grows louder, attracting indulgent caregivers who soothe it with pats on the head and empty promises of better days. Now imagine this is not an infantile, but a government. A government not in its infancy but in a perpetual state of arrested development. A government that, despite its abundant resources and opportunities, behaves like an entity incapable of growth, unable to foresee danger, and unwilling to take responsibility. This government is the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under President Felix Tshisekedi—a regime so consumed by incompetence and self-preservation that it blames the world for its failures while entertaining genocidaires’ ideology and perpetuating turmoil. This is not just a metaphor. It is the grim reality of a nation held hostage by a leadership that refuses to mature. A leadership that thrives on conflict, scapegoating, and the indifference of the international community. A leadership that would rather condemn truth-tellers to death than confront its own shortcomings. Please, remember the threat made by the DRC’s Minister of Justice Constant Mutamba. It’s on record. When the shepherd feeds the wolves Psychologists say, individuals with severe intellectual disabilities, through no fault of their own, often exhibit a reliance on caregivers, simple engagement with their surroundings, and struggles with cognition. Both require empathy, tailored care, and patience. In the case of toddlers, this is a natural developmental phase. In individuals with intellectual disabilities, it reflects lifelong challenges that need personalized attention. But what do we make of a government, supposedly endowed with the faculties of reasoning and responsibility, that behaves like an unrepentant toddler yet demands the indulgence of a perpetual daycare? Because, this government exhibits these traits not as a passing phase but as a chronic condition. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the government under the leadership of Felix Tshisekedi—a regime whose behavior transcends metaphor, plunging into the abyss of deliberate dysfunctionality. This is not an innocent struggle of a nation finding its way. No, this is willful chaos masquerading as governance, chaos sustained by international babysitters who would rather hum lullabies than confront the truth. This is the DRC under Tshisekedi—a regime that has elevated impulsivity to state policy, a government that feeds on division while ignoring the cries of its displaced citizens. What kind of government disowns its people while feeding the very forces responsible for their suffering? What kind of shepherd abandons the sheep and elevates the wolves? Think through this: the DRC government refuses to negotiate with Congolese M23 rebels, who have consistently articulated grievances and sought dialogue. The same government in the same room and bed with FDLR genocidaires! Ladies and gentlemen, What happens when a government desperately clings to the shadows, shielding its citizens from the light of truth? The DRC under President Felix Tshisekedi provides a sobering answer. Recently, the suspension of Al Jazeera's broadcasting license laid bare an administration terrified of inconvenient truths. The decision was triggered by an interview with Bertrand Bisiimwa, the President of M23. In that conversation, Bisiimwa unmasked the DRC government, exposing its failures, contradictions, and deceit. His words were not just inconvenient—they were devastating. They stripped the government of its façade, revealing a fragile entity that thrives not on solutions but on obfuscation and the suppression of dissent. The truth, as always, is dangerous to those who depend on lies for survival like Tshisekedi. Instead of addressing the issues raised, the government reacted predictably, lashing out like a cornered animal. The suspension of Al Jazeera was not just an attack on press freedom—it was an act of self-preservation. The regime's survival depends much on keeping its people in the dark, feeding them propaganda instead of facts. And to drive the point home, threats of death were issued against journalists daring to uncover the truth. The message is clear: tell the truth and suffer the consequences. Yet, this same government embraces the FDLR—genocidaires whose crimes are etched in the bloodied history of the region. The de facto immunity to FDLR grants them the status of patriots while treating displaced Congolese like tourists on a vacation or professionals who went out for greener pastures. The hypocrisy is astounding. This refusal to negotiate with M23 is not a strategy for peace. It is a declaration of war. The DRC government has found convenience in prolonging conflict, outsourcing mercenaries and foreign fighters who have no accountability to the Congolese people and no interest in restoring peace. War, for Tshisekedi’s administration, is not a calamity—it is a currency, far valuable than gold and diamonds. And in this perverted economy, the victims are the ordinary Congolese, forced to bear the cost of a government’s greed and ineptitude. MONUSCO: A caregiver gone rogue What about MONUSCO, the supposed peacekeepers? Instead of protecting the vulnerable, they support armed groups branded as patriots through government endorsement. These same patriots include genocidaires, rapists, and looters. MONUSCO’s complicity extends to turning a blind eye to hate speech and the spread of vitriolic discourse. Hate speech in the DRC has reached toxic levels, targeting Tutsis and Banyamulenge with genocidal rhetoric. The indifference of the international community to this growing threat is not just carelessness—it is an endorsement. Many lessons of history teach us that silence in the face of such rhetoric is deadly. The DRC is racing toward a precipice, and MONUSCO’s role as a bystander—or worse, an enabler—will be remembered as a stain on its mandate. The outrage of cannibalism As if the chaos weren’t enough, the DRC is now a theater of barbarity of cannibalism, with videos on YouTube or Tik-Tok, shocking even the most desensitized observers. Victims of these heinous acts are often dehumanized by hate-filled propaganda. Where is the outrage? Where is the condemnation from the international media? Cannibalism is not just an atrocity; it is a symptom of a society in moral freefall, where the lines between humanity and savagery have been deliberately erased. The government’s silence on such acts is deafening, its complicity damning. Adding to this grotesque tableau is the influx of mercenaries—outsourced fighters brought in to sustain a war that benefits the few at the expense of the many. These mercenaries have no stake in peace. They are profiteers of chaos, who thrive on the continuation of conflict, their paychecks written in the blood of Congolese civilians. Tshisekedi’s reliance on these mercenaries is a betrayal of the Congolese people. It is an admission that his government has no intention of resolving the conflict, only perpetuating it for political and financial gain. The lullabies of blame The DRC government sings many child's bedtime songs to its people, lulling them into a false sense of security while the country burns. When pressed for answers, Tshisekedi’s government sings the same tired lullaby: Why is infrastructure in shambles? Rwanda stole our soil. Why do schools lack desks, teachers, and books? Uganda’s President is responsible. Why is insecurity rampant in Bandundu and Katanga? A Rwandan conspiracy. Why are refugees and internally displaced persons ignored? They’re on vacation. Why is hate speech tolerated? It’s a cultural expression. Here are a few more lullabies you may hear: “We will bring peace by fighting M23.” Translation: We will never stop the war, because chaos suits us and is lucrative. “The FDLR are patriots protecting our borders.” Translation: We harbor genocidaires because they serve our agenda. “Rwanda is to blame for everything.” Translation: We have no solutions, so scapegoating is all we have and the drowsy international community is at ease. “MONUSCO is here to help us.” Translation: MONUSCO empowers our incompetence while funding our failures. And the cradle song goes on, as the people of the DRC are rocked to sleep in a cradle of lies, their cries drowned out by the orchestrated symphony of deception. The chorus is always the same, and it is amplified by international actors who enable this narrative. Meanwhile, the real issues—biting or abject poverty, displacement, hate speech, genocide ideology, and rampant corruption—are ignored. abject A call to the media: Break the silence To media organizations across the globe: you hold a power greater than any weapon—the power of truth. But reality is useless if it remains locked away, hidden behind editorial biases and geopolitical interests. Yes! The people of the DRC are not just victims of their government; they are victims of global media indifference. Where are the headlines about the government’s partnership with genocidaires? Where are the exposés on MONUSCO’s complicity in empowering armed groups? Why is there no indignation over the threats against journalists or the acts of cannibalism? And why is the DRC government allowed to vilify M23—a group seeking negotiation and peace—while shielding the FDLR, whose sole purpose is the destruction of Rwanda? The media must ask itself tough questions. Are you complicit in keeping the DRC people in the dark? Are you content to parrot government propaganda, or will you rise to the challenge of exposing the truth? To remain silent is to side with tyranny. To remain apathetic is to condone violence. The world is watching, and the truth will not be silenced. To the media: do not fail the people of the DRC. Shine your light on the darkness and force the world to see. To all who value justice: the time for action is now. Indifference is complicity. Silence is betrayal. The people of the DRC deserve better, and it is up to us to make sure they get it. The silence of the fourth estate—and the complicity of international institutions are not neutral. They embolden a government that thrives on division and destruction. The sad state of affairs—normalizes hate speech, genocide ideology, and the scapegoating of neighbors. Have you grown so accustomed to the horrors of the Great Lakes Region that they no longer move you? Or have you been lulled into silence by the same lullabies that appease the international community? You must understand the stakes. By ignoring the DRC’s descent into anarchy, you become complicit in its perpetuation. By failing to challenge the narratives of Tshisekedi’s regime, you aid in the silencing of truth and the oppression of millions. The suspension of Al Jazeera should not be met with silence. Journalists should not be cowering under death threats but standing united against them. Do not let the DRC government’s outbursts intimidate you. Do not let their duplicity go unchallenged. Shine a light on their failures, their lies, and their atrocities. Demand answers. Demand accountability. For every lullaby they sing, write an article that exposes their deceit. For every lie they tell, broadcast the truth. This is not just a call to action; it is a call to conscience. The DRC is not a daycare center, and Tshisekedi is not a toddler in need of indulgence. He is a leader, and with leadership comes responsibility. It is time for the world to hold him—and his enablers—accountable. Enough is Enough Folks! Where should I start? To the Congolese people, let this be a rallying cry. You deserve better than this farce of a government. Congolese, you deserve peace, dignity, and a future. Demand it. Fight for it. The world may sing you nursery rhymes, but you must rise above them and sing your anthem of defiance. Ladies and gentlemen, enough is enough. To the media: Stop amplifying lies. Expose the truth. Stop treating the Great Lakes Region as an afterthought. To the international community: Stop funding failure. Demand results, not excuses. Withdraw your blind indulgence for Tshisekedi's government. To African leaders: Unite against hate and division. The Great Lakes Region deserves unity, not scapegoating. To activists: Keep fighting. Keep shouting. Keep exposing the rot. We cannot wait for this government to grow up—because it may not. The DRC’s condition is not a phase in human growth. It is a deliberate choice, enabled by institutions too cowardly or complicit to act. This is not a daycare center, and the Congolese people are not pawns in Tshisekedi’s game of incompetence. The Great Lakes Region deserves better. It deserves leaders who will fight for peace, not profit from war. It deserves institutions that will protect the vulnerable, not coddle the corrupt. The time for pretexts is over. The phase for action is now. Stand up. Speak out. The soul of the Great Lakes Region depends on it.
