DRC conflict: A geopolitical powder keg
Friday, February 14, 2025 | 290 Views |
The Congo River Alliance (AFC), officially established in December 2023 under the leadership of Corneille Nangaa, marks a troubling evolution in the DRC’s conflict.
This heterogeneous coalition unites the March 23 Movement (M23), widely regarded as a military proxy of Kigali, according to UN reports the political movement Action for the Dignity of the Congo and its People (ADCP), and the armed group Twirwaneho from South Kivu. By merging these disparate factions, the AFC has transformed an ethnically-driven rebellion into a systemic threat to regional stability.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...