Kinshasa – President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo has publicly apologized to the Congolese people after admitting that he was misled about the true capabilities of his country’s military during a period of heightened tensions with Rwanda.
The remarks, delivered during a press conference in Kinshasa on May 6, marked one of Tshisekedi’s clearest acknowledgements yet that the Congolese army was deeply weakened, infiltrated, and unprepared for the kind of military confrontation that had been repeatedly threatened during the 2023 election campaign.
The Congolese leader had previously taken a much more aggressive tone toward Rwanda. During the final stages of his re-election campaign in December 2023, Tshisekedi made fiery speeches promising retaliation if AFC/M23 forces expanded their control in eastern Congo.
At the time, he confidently declared that the Congolese military could strike Kigali from Goma and warned that Rwandan President Paul Kagame “would not sleep in his house.” He further vowed that if even a single bullet from AFC/M23 landed in Goma or if more territory was seized, he would seek parliamentary authorization to officially declare war on Rwanda.
Those statements drew loud applause from supporters at campaign rallies and reflected the growing anger and frustration inside the DRC over insecurity in the eastern provinces. However, nearly two years later, Tshisekedi now says those declarations were made based on inaccurate information he had received from military officials.
Speaking candidly before journalists in Kinshasa, Tshisekedi admitted that as a civilian without military training, he initially relied on diplomatic channels and intelligence briefings from those around him. He explained that over time he came to realize that the actual condition of the Congolese armed forces was far worse than he had been told.
“I want to take this opportunity to apologize before the Congolese people,” Tshisekedi said. “Not because I believe I was rushed, but because I was given false information regarding our military.”
The Congolese president described an army plagued by division, poor leadership, lack of discipline, and severe logistical shortages. According to Tshisekedi, the military lacked sufficient uniforms, weapons, ammunition, and overall readiness to sustain a direct confrontation with a highly organized regional force.
He acknowledged that launching a war under such conditions would have been reckless and irresponsible.
“We could not go to war with an army that lacked direction and was divided,” Tshisekedi stated. “It is necessary to face reality.”
His comments also revealed the depth of internal dysfunction within the Congolese military establishment. Tshisekedi said sanctions and arrests currently taking place within the army are evidence that corruption, deception, and hidden weaknesses had long existed behind the scenes.
The president went even further by claiming that hostile infiltrators had penetrated the Congolese security apparatus from within. According to him, certain individuals operating inside the military secretly worked to weaken the institution while hiding behind peace agreements and political structures.
“People inside our military had infiltrated us,” he said. “They were destroying the army from within.”
Tshisekedi argued that this internal sabotage left the DRC with limited options other than diplomacy. He defended his decision to prioritize diplomatic engagement despite criticism from some Congolese citizens and commentators who believed the country should have responded with military force.
During the press conference, one journalist challenged Tshisekedi by suggesting that history favors leaders who prepare for war in order to secure peace. Referencing Roman military thinker Vegetius Renatus and political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli, the journalist questioned why the Congolese president continued emphasizing diplomacy while large parts of eastern Congo remained unstable.
The journalist also pressed Tshisekedi on when cities such as Goma and Bukavu would be fully secured.
In response, Tshisekedi maintained that diplomacy became necessary after he learned the truth about the military’s condition. He insisted that his government has since invested heavily in rebuilding the armed forces and improving national defense capacity.
“Today I can say that the army has improved in capacity,” he stated, while admitting that significant challenges remain.
The president further explained that the DRC is now working closely with international allies to restore peace and stability while also developing economic partnerships tied to Congo’s vast natural resources.
Tshisekedi’s latest statements are likely to generate strong reactions both inside the DRC and across the Great Lakes region. Supporters may view his apology as an unusual moment of honesty from a sitting African head of state, while critics may see it as confirmation that political rhetoric and military threats were made without a realistic assessment of the country’s actual capabilities.
The remarks also come at a time when regional tensions involving eastern Congo, AFC/M23, Rwanda, and neighboring countries remain highly sensitive, with diplomatic efforts continuing alongside fragile ceasefire arrangements and ongoing accusations between regional actors.
For many observers, Tshisekedi’s admission underscores the broader challenges facing the DRC: rebuilding state institutions, reforming the military, restoring public trust, and finding a sustainable path toward peace in one of Africa’s most volatile regions.
