Political analyst Christian Moleka has provided a comprehensive assessment of the military and diplomatic approaches implemented by Kinshasa in response to the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC). Despite a substantial allocation of 4.5 billion dollars between 2022 and 2025 under the military programming law, Moleka observes that “the results have not met expectations” on the ground. The FARDC, the national army, has notably failed to regain the upper hand against the AFC/M23 rebels since the capture of Bunagana in 2022.

On the diplomatic front, the analyst acknowledges several significant breakthroughs. These include the imposition of European sanctions against Rwanda, a discernible shift in Washington’s understanding of the conflict, and the unanimous adoption of a resolution by the United Nations Security Council. However, Moleka highlights a persistent disconnect between these diplomatic achievements and the harsh realities faced on the ground. He points to a report from the UN Group of Experts, which indicates that the M23 has expanded its occupied territory by an additional 35% since the Doha agreements. “These are tools that have yielded only partial results,” he summarized, reflecting a concern for pan-African current affairs.

When pressed on where the primary responsibility for this mixed outcome lies, Christian Moleka was unequivocal: “I would say it’s more with the military aspect.” He drew an analogy between diplomacy and military effort, likening them to a two-person dance: “One cannot maintain a diplomatic stance without a robust military component to support it.” According to the analyst, the international gains secured by Kinshasa risk being undermined in the long term if they are not bolstered by a more favorable military balance of power.

Concluding his analysis, Moleka situated the conflict within a broader historical context, describing it as a “war of attrition” spanning three decades. He emphasized that in such a prolonged struggle, “it’s not intensity that matters, but the capacity to endure over time.” This challenge, he asserted, applies equally to both Congolese diplomacy and its armed forces, a crucial point for Africa politics English discussions.