Deputy spokesperson of the M23 rebel movement, Dr. Oscar Balinda, has claimed that Belgium played a role in influencing Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi to abandon terms previously agreed upon with the group and instead collaborate with the FDLR militia.
Dr. Balinda made the allegations during an interview shared on the official social media platforms of AFC/M23.
Background to the Failed Dialogue
Between October 2020 and late 2021, the Government of the DRC hosted senior leaders of the M23 in Kinshasa as both sides explored ways to restore peace in the country’s troubled eastern region.
The initiative followed Tshisekedi’s pledge made shortly after assuming office in January 2019 to pursue peace through dialogue, marking a departure from his predecessor Joseph Kabila’s approach.
Dr. Balinda revealed that the M23 had high expectations when Tshisekedi came to power, explaining that the group had communicated with him even before his election victory. “When Tshisekedi took office, we immediately sent a delegation to Kinshasa. We were optimistic because we had been speaking with him before his election. So we believed peace was possible,” he said.
According to Balinda, both sides had reached several agreements, including integrating M23 fighters into the national army and assigning some to help secure state institutions, particularly at a time when Tshisekedi reportedly did not fully trust the existing security apparatus he inherited from Kabila.
He added: “He suddenly changed course and began attacking us. This war was initiated by him. Our fighters were waiting in the Virunga area for trucks that were supposed to transport them to Kinshasa to begin integration. Instead, the trucks arrived loaded with heavy weapons, tanks, and artillery. On 21 November 2021, he launched the offensive and it has continued until now.”
Collapse of the Peace Effort
Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, the DRC government had agreed that eligible M23 fighters would be reintegrated into civilian life, while others meeting specific criteria would join a new elite unit tasked with combating armed groups in eastern Congo.
The delegation’s stay in Kinshasa, which lasted 14 months, was meant to prepare this transition. However, Tshisekedi reportedly refused to meet them throughout that period. By late 2021, M23 leadership decided to recall their representatives back to Rutshuru territory.
Shortly after, in December 2021, the Congolese army launched operations against M23 positions in Runyoni and Chanzu, triggering the renewed conflict in North Kivu.
Belgium’s Alleged Influence
Dr. Balinda accused Belgium the former colonial power in Congo of encouraging Tshisekedi to abandon agreements with M23 and instead align himself with the FDLR, a militia composed partly of individuals implicated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
He stated: “This leader has effectively handed Congo back to the colonizers. Belgium is now deeply involved in his decision-making. They are the ones advising him and influencing all major decisions.”
He further claimed: “We believe Belgium convinced him to stop working with us. They told him to abandon dialogue with M23 and instead partner with FDLR. That is how the war was reignited.”
FDLR–Kinshasa Cooperation
Evidence of cooperation between FDLR elements and the Congolese armed forces has been widely reported during the ongoing conflict with M23 in North Kivu.
As fighting intensified, M23 forces captured large areas across the province, significantly altering the security map of the region.
