Belgium Deploys Troops to Eastern DRC

The Belgian government on March 17 deployed troops, tanks and drones to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to train and reinforce the Congolese army, FARDC, Wazalendo millitia, and the Rwandan genocidal militia, FDLR, to eliminate AFC/M23 rebels who now control swathes of territory in the east of the country.

Although their official presence is reportedly for training purposes, Belgian Commandos—estimated to number between 300 and 400 soldiers, roughly two companies—are expected to engage the rebels directly alongside the Congolese army coalition which lost large parts of the country’s eastern region, despite receiving support from numerous soldiers, including well-paid European mercenaries.

Based in Lwama Camp, in Kindu, the capital city of Maniema Province, Belgian troops will also train Congolese military instructors of the 31st Brigade of the Rapid Reaction Units (URR), a force also trained by Belgium between 2008 and 2017.

Prior to this military support, on March 14, Congolese media outlet, Actualite, deleted an article which stated that Belgium received 20 million euros from the EU to “equip and restore” the infrastructure of the 31st URR Brigade. This raises questions about the reasons behind this financial injection and, of course, how such funds can be allocated to infrastructure while the country is grappling with a serious security crisis.

According to flight tracking data from Flightradar24, the Belgian Air Force Falcon aircraft departed from Belgium on March 17, heading to Kinshasa. The following day, on March 18, it made a stop at Kindu Airport before returning to Kinshasa later that same day. The aircraft then flew back to Belgium on March 20.

The Belgian reinforcement comes amidst the Kinshasa-Brussels honeymoon, where Belgium always has DRC’s back within the EU, lobbying against Rwanda even if it means crossing certain lines, upsetting traditional balances, and breaking a fragile diplomatic process.

The current good relationship between DRC and Belgium stems largely on the latter’s interest in minerals in the country but also on several Belgian MPs of Congolese origin, particularly those active in the ranks of the party Les Engagés , that of Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévost, who are paid by Kinshasa to push its narrative among European Countries.

George Washington once said, “Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pain taken to bring it to light.” No matter how much Kinshasa may attempt to distort history and obscure the truth behind the raison d’être of AFC/M23, the cause that drove them to leave their families and take up arms in defense of their rights will ultimately triumph.

Belgium only appears when it is defending Kinshasa. Brussels was the first Western capital to rush to recognize the victory of Tshisekedi in the 2023 presidential election, which everyone knows was a fraud.

However, the country never denounced the Congolese bad governance, its involvement in killing, torture and intimidation of Rwandophones or even Tshisekedi’s plans to amend the Constitution to allow him to stay in power.

Belgium often presents itself as a champion of peace, particularly in the ongoing conflict between Kinshasa and the rebels.

However, by sending more soldiers to support FARDC in its fight against fellow Congolese citizens, they are contradicting their own narrative.

They know that the only lasting solution lies in meaningful dialogue between the warring parties, not in the escalation of military intervention.

Backed by Belgium, Tshisekedi’s strategy of lobbying against Rwanda, heaping his country’s insecurity blame to AFC/M23 rebels will only delay peace, escalate the conflict and ultimately lead to his downfall.