Tshisekedi turns to ‘broad-based’ government as M23 offensive continues

It is a second such strategy the Congolese government is employing to turn the tide on M23 and Rwanda, which Kinshasa accuses of backing the rebels.

Last week, Kinshasa continued to lobby external partners to formalise mineral deals with the government of DRC, seeing as one way to limit the use of militias in eastern parts of the country.

Politically speaking, Tshisekedi says he will soon appoint a new government of “national unity”, whose “mission will be to stand up to the aggressions to which the country has fallen victim.”

Tshisekedi indicated last week to an audience of senior officials in his ruling Sacred Union alliance that he intended to open up the possibility for the opposition figures to join forces for peace.

"We must unite. Our strength lies in the Congolese people standing up and being determined,” he said.

But he was also expressing his disappointment at the lack of commitment from the leading members of his coalition. He said some of his party stalwarts have remained “mute and inactive" but praised others who he said have pledged to denounce the M23 advance and mobilise young people to enlist in the army in order to block the rebels' path.

Read:  Turning the tide in Congo

The Sacred Union coalition, Tshisekedi argues, is in power but has not been vocal, apart from ministers such as Jean-Pierre Bemba in charge of defence.

“I haven't seen many people taking to the stage to call on our young people to enlist in the army to defend the homeland. I'm very sorry.”

Félix Tshisekedi consequently announced “a restructuring of the leadership” of his coalition, known in French as ‘Union Sacrée de la Nation’ which makes up the central government in Kinshasa, but also all the governments in the 24 of DRC's 26 provinces.  North and South Kivu provinces have become stronghold of M23 rebels.

Tshisekedi admits the current crisis calls for a triple reform, starting from within his coalition, then the overall government inclusion and within the army.

Tshisekedi had restructured the army in December 2024, but now promises to overhaul it, promising to “build a professional army” to better face the peril of insecurity.

Multiple experts’ reports had indicated weaknesses in the army including lack of proper equipment, poor chain of command and generally low morale.

The Congolese president's announcement comes at a time when the M23 rebels have captured important parts of the provinces of North and South Kivu, including the main cities of Goma and Bukavu. Last week, he said he believes that an overhauled army is needed to put an end to “internal betrayals.”

One step he has already taken to show “unity” was to grant a presidential pardon to political rival Jean-Marc Kabund on February 21. The former first vice-president of the National Assembly and former leader of the ruling UDPS party became a fierce opponent of Félix Tshisekedi. Later, he was sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment in 2023.

He had been convicted of contempt of the Head of State, among other charges, and was serving his sentence in Kinshasa's Makala central prison.

On March 1 this year, Justice Minister Constant Mutamba granted “conditional release” to other rivals; Mike Mukebay and Seth Kikuni. The two were also incarcerated at Makala, formally known as Re-education Prison (CPRK). The Minister for Justice announced that 801 people, overall, had benefited from the presidential pardon.

“The release process will continue in all the country's prisons from this Sunday”, Mutamba has said.

Read: M23 rebels threaten to advance on Bukavu as fighting flares

It now remains to be seen who in the opposition will join forces with the Congolese head of state. Jean-Marc Kabund, just released from prison, has already announced that “his differences with Félix Tshisekedi are insurmountable.” Former President Joseph Kabila, widely suspected of being the godfather of AFC/M23 leader Corneille Nangaa, is virtually disqualified.

He recently described President Tshisekedi as a “tyrant.” Opposition leader Delly Sesanga has also rejected the idea of joining forces with the Congolese president. His Envol party described President Félix Tshisekedi's initiative as “a political maneuver aimed at strengthening his personal power rather than resolving the crisis.”

“This approach is reminiscent of that of Marshal Mobutu, who, faced with threats to his regime, multiplied governments of national unity, hoping to contain the crisis”, commented Rodrigue Ramazani, Secretary General of Envol. Moïse Katumbi and Martin Fayulu, other prominent presidential rivals, are equally opposed to President Tshisekedi's initiative.

Fayulu, however, has adopted a more conciliatory tone, calling on the Head of State “to measure the scale of the disaster that is overwhelming our country.”

Fayulu instead called on President Tshisekedi to support the Catholic and Protestant Church's peace initiative.  Fayulu also called for unity, but around the “Kinshasa process”, in reference to the initiative of Catholics and Protestant pastors for peace talks. Between warring parties.

“Faced with the scale of the disaster, internal division is a luxury we can no longer afford. The initiative of the Catholic priests and the ECC is a historic opportunity to end the war and rebuild our country. I firmly appeal to all Congolese to rally behind this dynamic of reconciliation and national cohesion,” said Fayulu.

Among the opposition figures, former Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito said he was “ready to participate in the war effort.”

"Félix Tshisekedi won the elections by more than 70 percent and now represents the people. That's a fact. We must support him. We should be able to put aside our ambitions, our divisions and our ideologies", said Muzito.