The President of the DRC, Félix Tshisekedi, took advantage of the occasion of the launch on Monday in Paris, France, of his book "For a Rediscovered Congo" to lament the indifference of the international community towards the DRC, a victim of a war with disastrous consequences.

"This platform also offers me the opportunity to share with the eminent audience that you are, the disappointment of the Congolese people in the face of the ignorance of the injustice it has suffered for nearly thirty years due to an imposed war and its resulting consequences. I could not, under any circumstance, fail in this noble duty to speak out on the tragedy that my country knows," at the auditorium of the Collège Les Bernardins, in front of a public composed of Congolese and French, the Congolese statesman added: "I have sworn never to betray the Congo, nor my struggle, nor that of my illustrious father, in maintaining the sacred flame of democracy and in placing the people at the heart of my action for a rediscovered Congo."

Below is the complete message from President Félix Tshisekedi

Elected President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo following the 2018 presidential elections, I found myself on January 24, 2019, at the forefront. As a witness and participant alongside the people, I attended the first peaceful transfer of power in a country as large as all the countries of Western Europe combined, a country independent since 1960. I have sworn never to betray the Congo, nor my struggle nor that of my illustrious father, in maintaining the sacred flame of democracy and in placing the people at the heart of my action for a rediscovered Congo.

Invested in my new duties, I quickly became aware of the scale of the challenges that awaited me, with my government, in a country where almost everything remained to be done or redone. On the eve of the 2023 elections, five years after my first election as President of the Republic, as I was preparing to once again meet the Congolese population to seek their votes, an almost vital necessity imposed itself: that of sharing with Congo and the world the thoughts and feelings of a man marked by the noble experience of presiding over the destiny of a nation, through a free exercise devoid of any protocol, which only writing could offer me.

Re-elected for a second term as President of the Republic, my presence here is a new profession of faith in my deep attachment to the universal values of peace and justice that have accompanied me from the beginning until today. Furthermore, this ceremony allows me to highlight my vision and my determination to maintain my commitment to meet the deep aspirations of the Congolese people, in particular, those aiming to make our Congo a leading player in a world in the midst of change, marked by numerous challenges, especially those related to peace and security, economic development, and the preservation of our common heritage in the face of the ever-looming threat of climate change.

Finally, this platform also gives me the opportunity to share with the distinguished audience, the disappointment of the Congolese people at the ignorance of the injustice they have been suffering for nearly thirty years due to a war that has been imposed on them, and the consequences thereof. Under no circumstance could I fail in this noble duty to speak out on the tragedy known by my country, as well as on the unyielding will to be heard, even to extinguish through the sacrifice of its valiant men and women the peril presented by the predatory and expansionist desires expressed by certain foreign powers.

Indeed, as we strive to meet our destiny, which notably involves pursuing courageous policies and above all stabilizing the security situation in certain regions and better protecting the population, my country is facing a cowardly and barbarous aggression fomented by external powers in violation of international law. This is compounded by the activism of foreign and national negative forces, particularly in the east of our Republic. The toll of this repeated aggression and armed activism is very heavy: millions of women and young girls have been victims of unimaginable violence. Over 7 million people have been internally displaced, and over 10 million human lives have been lost in this latent murderous madness.

These events are not just mere allegations. They are supported by a series of international reports known to the international community and United Nations condemnations highlighting the involvement of external powers, particularly that of Rwanda, in supporting the M23 and in the escalation of tensions and violence, despite the existence of numerous mechanisms and agreements that the Democratic Republic of Congo has never failed to uphold, intended to maintain peace and security in the Great Lakes region.

Despite the overwhelming evidence and repeated calls for responsibility and respect for the commitments made towards the principle of good neighborliness, respect for sovereignty and the principle of non-interference—principles that the Democratic Republic of Congo has always endeavored to observe—the macabre hand of destabilization continues to act with disconcerting impunity for all to see. This sad and grim reality demands a firm and determined response.

It is in this context, taking into account the threats perpetrated against our sovereignty, and in order to annihilate the treacherous tendencies of a proportion, albeit residual, of Congolese men and women in favor of negative powers, that the Congolese Parliament made the decision, although controversial, to proceed with the lifting of the moratorium on the death penalty. While the Democratic Republic of Congo is resolutely committed to respecting human rights and the rule of law, it cannot afford to remain passive when its security and that of its population are threatened.

Indeed, the ultimate goal pursued remains the guarantee of the security and well-being of all Congolese citizens in compliance with international standards on human rights and justice. In this effort to stabilize and protect our region, the role of our international partners, and particularly that of France, is crucial. As evidence, I appreciate its various positions taken at the United Nations Security Council, which testify to its commitment to a return to peace and stability within the Great Lakes region, as well as to the respect of the sovereignty of its States.

Nevertheless, I cannot fail to express the concern of the Congolese people when, alongside this commitment, partnerships are formed directly or by association with our aggressors, notably in the mining sector, where lies the very motivation for the repeated aggressions we have suffered for thirty years.

Boni Tsala