The US’s apparent shift in position on the security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) raises serious concerns about the former’s commitment to finding real answers and may even contribute to the instability it purports to be against.
Only a few weeks prior, the US correctly identified the FDLR as a major player in the violence and offered a clear plan of action for dealing with it. However, in a recent development, they appear to have minimized their role and amplified the Congolese government’s narrative that blames Rwanda.
This contradiction not only erodes confidence but also helps those who would prefer externalize their issues than deal with the underlying reasons of a conflict that is fundamentally an internal Congolese issue.
Over three decades have seen the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly the eastern region, get mired in a cycle of violence marked by a deliberate, state-sponsored attempt to wipe out a community of Congolese citizens.
However, Kinshasa has consistently used blame shifting, accusing other neighboring nations like Rwanda of being the cause of its problems. The people caught in the crossfire of this deflection game have suffered greatly, and the real attackers have been able to carry out their terrifying campaign.
The US runs the risk of joining this masquerade as a result of its changing stances. The Congolese government’s finger-pointing is given legitimacy by downplaying the FDLR’s participation, which prevents Kinshasa from facing up to its own inadequacies. These include a lack of political will to address the underlying causes of war, widespread corruption, and an ineffective security infrastructure.
The US should support the well-designed regional-led processes that Kinshasa has continuously undercut, rather than continuing this counterproductive narrative. These agreements—like those in Luanda and Nairobi—provide a real path to peace by emphasizing internal changes, disarmament, and inclusive discourse.
The international community must participate in the DR Congo with consistency and morality if it is to follow the clear path to peace. In particular, the US needs to behave as a fair mediator, fending off pressure to assign blame and instead holding the Congolese government responsible for its own deeds.
Only then will the Congolese people be able to break free from the cycle of violence and have a chance to create a rich and peaceful future.
The real route to peace is not assigning blame but rather making all parties responsible and backing initiatives led by the area that deal with the underlying causes of conflict.
 raises serious concerns about the former's commitment to finding real answers and may even contribute to the instability it purports to be against.){kind=link}