While addressing a U.S. congressional committee following his recent trip to DR Congo, Rwanda, and other countries in the region, Congressman Ronny Jackson who chairs the House Armed Services Committee on Intelligence and Special Operations, shared key insights on the ongoing crisis in DR Congo. He emphasized the urgent need to address issues to ensure regional security and stability. ALSO READ: With or without Rwanda, M23 is uncontested, says US congressman The New Times examines the major points raised by the congressman regarding the crisis in DR Congo and his call for a collective effort to resolve them for the benefit of all. 1. The longstanding M23 issue Congressman Jackson acknowledged the persistent problem of certain Congolese being denied their rights to citizenship, a situation that fuelled the rebels' ongoing armed liberation struggle. “There are certain people in eastern DR Congo who are unrecognized as Congolese citizens. That may be in part because it used to be Rwanda before the borders were redrawn many years ago. That area was once part of Rwanda, but I would submit to you that a large part of Uganda also used to be Rwanda. However, after the borders were redrawn, those people were immediately assimilated and treated as Ugandan citizens. That has not happened in DR Congo,” he said. He argued that without addressing this issue, expecting the rebels to disarm is unrealistic. “They are an armed resistance. There has to be an effort to somehow incorporate them into the Congolese military and ensure they are recognized as Congolese citizens protecting their own country—not the current situation,” he added. ALSO READ: Kagame, US Congressman discuss cooperation to promote regional peace 2. DR Congo’s governance failure Based on his findings, Jackson questioned the Congolese government’s ability to handle pressing issues, arguing that Kinshasa lacks control over eastern DR Congo and is instead benefiting from the ongoing crisis. “We all know that eastern DR Congo is a completely ungoverned area—it’s like the Wild West. I truly believe there is no ability for the government in Kinshasa to actually control that area right now,” Jackson stated. “They don’t have the resources or the ability to meaningfully impact what is happening there. In my mind, they have become just another entity trying to take advantage of the resources and get what they can,” he added. ALSO READ: DR Congo crisis: Over 2,100 police officers, 890 Congolese soldiers join M23 in Bukavu 3. Corruption Jackson identified corruption as a major contributor to the crisis, arguing that the Congolese government has failed to tackle it. He highlighted how corruption benefits certain investors while excluding others, fuelling instability. “There’s a certain level of corruption everywhere, but I was shocked at how bad it is there,” he said. “There’s a biased justice system—you can never be assured that if you go there and get into a legal dispute, you will get a fair judgment. If you are right, they still might not rule in your favour,” he added. He also pointed out manipulated exchange rates, excessive and arbitrary fees, and a system where government officials and their families grow wealthy while the general population suffers. He recalled an encounter with a Swiss company that was heavily taxed beyond its annual profits, linking this to bribery and how such practices undermine economic growth. “Not many countries are willing to operate in that environment. So, the parties who are willing to pay bribes, they end up being able to compete without competition.” ALSO READ: Kanyuka: M23 wants talks but not in ‘toxic environment’ 4. Rwanda’s security threat from FDLR Jackson acknowledged Rwanda’s security concerns along its border with the DR Congo due to the presence of FDLR, a militia group linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. He noted that FDLR’s continued activity not only poses a direct threat to Rwandan citizens but also impacts the country’s economy, particularly the tourism sector. “Rwanda has a legitimate concern regarding FDLR and the terrorist threat on their border. They have a tourism industry they need to protect—it’s in the northwest part of the country, right on the border, with people living there,” he said. “If rockets start landing there, tourism is gone. For those of you who have been there, you know that Goma is right on the border,” he added. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s concerns must be addressed along with DR Congo’s issues, Kagame says 5. The need for security in the region The congressman acknowledged that while various countries are present in DR Congo for its mineral wealth, lasting security is essential for economic stability. “DR Congo could be one of the wealthiest countries on the entire planet, but I do believe certain things have to happen,” he said. “For this to work, eastern Congo must become a region where all stakeholders have a vested interest in safety, security, and the ability for foreign companies to invest,” he added. Jackson emphasized the need for regional cooperation. A stable eastern DR Congo benefits everyone, he said. Everyone should see profit and have a reason to invest in stability,” he said. ALSO READ: DR Congo crisis: Who are the three new peace facilitators? “If everyone has a stake in the area’s economic success, they will have an interest in maintaining security. Right now, that cannot happen because the region lacks the necessary level of safety and security,” he noted. The lawmaker called for a concerted effort to bring governments together to establish a mutually beneficial framework that ensures stability. “There has to be a reasonable way for all parties to profit financially from partnerships while ensuring safety and security. Right now, everyone is fighting some type of rebel group—whether it’s Uganda dealing with ADF, M23 fighting to push back the FDLR, and so on.”
