Belgian politician Marc Botenga, a self-proclaimed champion of justice, sovereignty, and human rights, would have us believe that he is an unrelenting crusader for truth. But a closer look at his political posturing reveals something else entirely: a man who cherry-picks his outrage, selectively condemns certain nations while whitewashing others, and molds his supposed principles to fit a predetermined ideological agenda. In the European Parliament, he thunders against Rwanda, condemns M23 as foreign invaders, and paints the Congolese government as a hapless victim. And yet, when confronted with evidence of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) hiring European mercenaries, colluding with genocidal militias, or engaging in ethnic massacres, Botenga suddenly becomes mute, as though he had misplaced his moral compass. This is not the mark of an objective truth-seeker. It is the mark of a demagogue. A man who shouts about justice, but only when it suits him. A man who fancies himself as the European Parliament’s conscience on African affairs, yet applies double standards so glaringly obvious that even the most uninformed observer can see through his charade. This is not ordinary two-facedness; it is the political equivalent of snake oil salesmanship. It is deception wrapped in self-righteousness, and it demands to be called out. Botenga's Consistent Support for Tshisekedi’s Anti-Rwanda Rhetoric Marc Botenga has been one of the loudest voices in the European Parliament denouncing what he claims to be Rwanda’s support for M23 rebels in eastern DRC. He presents the M23 issue as a purely foreign aggression, deliberately ignoring the internal grievances that led to the movement’s resurgence. His stance aligns perfectly with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi's narrative, which seeks to externalize the country’s security failures by blaming Rwanda. According to Congolese online publication Actualité.cd, on December 6, 2022, Botenga strongly criticized the European Union’s military cooperation with Rwanda. He argued that the EU was essentially aiding an aggressor state, despite multiple reports questioning the Congolese government’s own role in fueling instability. “The European Union must stop contributing to the war against the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Botenga declared, conveniently ignoring the presence of genocidal forces like the FDLR, ADF terrorists and more than 260 armed militias operating in the same region. While Botenga is vocal about the presence of M23, he remains conspicuously silent on the FDLR, a group composed of remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi. He refuses to acknowledge the FDLR’s long history of massacres, rapes, and terrorist activities within the DRC, preferring instead to focus solely on Rwanda. This is not just an oversight—it is an intentional erasure of facts to fit a narrative that serves Tshisekedi’s regime. Silence on Tshisekedi’s Use of Mercenaries and Human Rights Violations Beyond ignoring the FDLR, Botenga has also turned a blind eye to Tshisekedi’s use of foreign mercenaries in his war efforts. Reports from media channels, indicate that the Congolese government has employed Argemira Group operatives—mercenaries from Eastern Europe and the Middle East. This move, which blatantly violates sovereignty and international laws, has not elicited a single criticism from Botenga. Additionally, there is ample evidence, proving the Congolese military (FARDC) has been working alongside the FDLR to attack civilian populations, a fact corroborated by UN reports. But again, Botenga remains silent. This hypocrisy is particularly glaring given his professed commitment to justice and accountability in international conflicts. On February 16, 2023, Botenga condemned what he called the EU’s “double standards” in handling international conflicts. According to media reports, he questioned why the EU imposed swift sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine but did not take similar measures against Rwanda for its alleged involvement in the DRC conflict. “When it’s Ukraine, immediate sanctions. But when it’s the DRC that is attacked by the M23, nothing. Some nice words to deceive, but without any sanctions against Rwanda,” he stated. This statement not only echoes Tshisekedi’s talking points but also misrepresents the complexity of the conflict. Unlike Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the situation in the DRC is deeply rooted in local ethnic tensions, historical grievances, and Congolese state failures. To compare Rwanda’s alleged involvement with Russia’s clear-cut military presence in Ukraine, is not just misleading; it is a deliberate distortion of facts. Criticizing Israel While Ignoring DRC Atrocities Marc Botenga’s selective outrage is not limited to the Great Lakes region. In a recent European Parliament debate, he attacked EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas for not condemning Israel during an official visit. Botenga lashed out, saying: “The ICC has called for the arrest of Israeli leaders. Yet you travel to Israel, and your first words are: ‘We are very good partners.’ Very good partners in what? In crime? In genocide? In ethnic cleansing? These words are a shame to the European Union.” While Botenga’s condemnation of Israeli actions is his prerogative, his complete silence on the atrocities occurring in the DRC is hypocritical. The DRC has seen mass killings, sexual violence, and even acts of cannibalism committed by various armed groups, including those allied with the Congolese government. Reports from different human rights organizations and the UN have documented these crimes in horrifying detail, yet Botenga has never directed his moral outrage at these perpetrators. If he is truly a champion of human rights, why does he remain silent when Congolese civilians suffer at the hands of their own government? Why does he not call out Tshisekedi’s complicity in fostering ethnic violence against Congolese Tutsi populations? The Imposing Illusion of Marc Botenga Europe’s Parliamentarian Botenga, presents himself as a fearless truth-teller, but his record tells another story. His criticism is selective, his principles malleable, his moral outrage a theatrical performance designed to serve political expediency rather than truth. He screams about Rwanda while whispering about the atrocities in the DRC. He demands justice for some victims while ignoring others. He attacks Israel with the ferocity of a man possessed, yet looks the other way when faced with undeniable evidence of mass murder, rape, and ethnic cleansing in the Congo. This is not the behavior of a principled advocate—it is the conduct of an ideological mercenary, a man who sees the world not through the lens of justice, but through the narrow prism of political convenience. The European Parliament and the international community must wake up to this farce. If justice is to mean anything, it cannot be applied selectively. And if Marc Botenga is to be taken seriously, he must be held to the same standard he so eagerly applies to others. Until then, he remains nothing more than a hypocrite with a megaphone—loud, hate-filled—but ultimately empty.
