TSHISEKEDI’S “UNITY” TALKS ARE JUST ANOTHER GAME OF POWER
The word “unity” has become a joke in Congo. President Félix Tshisekedi now calls for political consultations to form a so-called national unity government — but the people see it for what it really is: a desperate attempt to polish a regime drowning in failure.
The major opposition parties have refused to join this show. Moïse Katumbi’s Ensemble pour la République, Martin Fayulu’s ECIDE, Matata Ponyo’s LGD, Delly Sessanga’s Envol, and even Kabila’s FCC have all said no. They see what many of us see — this is not unity, it is survival politics. Tshisekedi wants to share chairs, not power. He wants to silence dissent, not solve the crisis.
The opposition is right. Congo does not need another round of political theatre. We do not need more negotiations held in fancy hotels while the East burns and millions starve. We need truth, courage, and accountability. As Hervé Diakese, the spokesperson for Katumbi’s party, said clearly: “Our country no longer requires cosmetic solutions or musical chairs.”
The bishops of the National Episcopal Conference (CENCO) and the pastors of the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC) have offered a better way — a truly inclusive dialogue that brings everyone to the table: the government, the opposition, civil society, and even armed groups. They are the only ones trusted by the people. Because when politicians fight for positions, it is the Church that buries the dead.
The Catholic bishops and Protestant pastors have spoken with every side — rebels, opposition leaders, and regional actors. They know the reality. They know peace cannot come from a president who rules by decree while the East falls into foreign hands. They know that real dialogue must start from the people, not from the palace.
Tshisekedi’s consultations are an insult to that effort. They are a way of pretending to act while doing nothing. A way to appear as a man of peace while planning for another election season. His government has lost legitimacy — not because the opposition says so, but because the people see no results.
Look at the East. The M23, backed by Rwanda, now controls Goma, Bukavu, and other major towns. Over half a million people have fled their homes. Seven million Congolese live displaced inside their own country. The rebels march further south toward Uvira, while our government organizes meetings in Kinshasa.
This is not leadership. This is cowardice wrapped in diplomacy.
The ceasefire talks in Angola collapsed after the M23 walked away, angry at European sanctions. Even President Joao Lourenço, who was leading the mediation for the African Union, gave up. Now, five former African presidents will try to fix what Congo’s own leadership has destroyed. But how can peace come when the government itself refuses to face its mistakes?
Tshisekedi promised to end the war, to fight corruption, to bring dignity back to the people. Instead, he has brought more division, more debt, and more death. His response to every crisis is the same — form another committee, start another dialogue, blame someone else. But dialogues cannot build peace when they are built on lies.
Every year, our leaders gather to “discuss” peace, and every year, the rebels gain more ground. The same words are repeated, the same faces reappear, and the same people continue to suffer. How many more dialogues will it take before we understand that Congo’s problem is not lack of conversation — it is lack of conviction.
The opposition is right to boycott this farce. True unity is not about joining hands with those who have failed the nation. It is about standing firm until the system itself changes. Unity built on hypocrisy will always collapse.
Tshisekedi should stop pretending to lead a democracy while silencing his critics. He should stop calling for unity when he cannot even unite his army. And he should stop hiding behind “consultations” when what the country needs is action.
The people of Congo are not fools. They can see through the empty speeches. They can see that their president is more interested in staying in power than saving lives.
If Tshisekedi really wants unity, let him start with humility. Let him admit his government has failed. Let him release political prisoners. Let him reform the army. Let him face the truth that peace will only come when Congo belongs to its people again — not to those who treat it as a personal kingdom.
Until then, these “consultations” will remain what they are — another game played while the nation bleeds.