Belgium is said to have deployed troops, tanks, and drones to the DRC on March 17 in a mission to train and reinforce the Congolese army (FARDC), the Wazalendo militia, and the FDLR in their ongoing campaign against AFC/M23 rebels, who control vast territories in the country's eastern region.
While the official line states that Belgian troops are in the DRC for training purposes, reports indicate that between 300 and 400 Belgian commandos could engage directly in combat alongside the Congolese forces, which have struggled to regain control of lost regions despite support from European mercenaries.
Belgian troops have established their base at Lwama Camp in Kindu, the capital of Maniema Province. From there, they are set to train Congolese military instructors from the 31st Brigade of the Rapid Reaction Units (URR), a force previously trained by Belgium between 2008 and 2017.
The European Union recently provided €20 million in funding to 'equip and restore' the brigade's infrastructure, though Congolese media outlet Actualite deleted an article referencing the financial package on March 14, raising questions about the true allocation of these funds.
Adding to the intrigue, flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows that a Belgian Air Force Dassault Falcon 7X departed Belgium on March 17, landing in Kinshasa before proceeding to Kindu on March 18.
The aircraft then returned to Kinshasa the same day and departed for Brussels on March 20. Notably, it made another trip to Africa shortly after, landing in Bujumbura, Burundi, on March 21 before returning to Belgium the following day. The purpose of the trips remains undisclosed but appears to corroborate the troop deployment arrangement between Belgium and DRC authorities.
Belgium's increasing military involvement in the DRC comes against the backdrop of close ties between Kinshasa and Brussels.
Belgium has consistently backed the Congolese government within the EU, particularly by lobbying for sanctions against Rwanda over claims of supporting the AFC/M23 rebels. In protest, Rwanda, which has repeatedly denied the claims, severed diplomatic ties with Belgium on March 17.
Analysts suggest that Belgium's motivations extend beyond diplomatic support, with economic interests in DRC's mineral wealth playing a significant role.
Moreover, Belgian politicians of Congolese descent, particularly from the Les Engagés party of Foreign Minister Maxime Prévost, have been actively pushing Kinshasa's narrative within European institutions.
Despite presenting itself as a neutral mediator, Belgium's latest actions raise concerns about its role in escalating the conflict. By reinforcing FARDC, which collaborates with the FDLR and Wazalendo militiasâ€"both accused of grave human rights violationsâ€"Brussels risks undermining regional peace efforts. The FDLR has been a major concern, with Rwanda accusing the group, formed by the perpetrators of the genocide against the Tutsi, of posing security threats and seeking regime change.
Many African leaders have advocated for dialogue as the only sustainable solution to the crisis, yet Belgium's military involvement appears to contradict these calls.
Belgium was among the first Western nations to endorse Félix Tshisekedi's contested victory in the 2023 DRC presidential elections, despite widespread allegations of electoral fraud. However, it has remained silent on Kinshasa's governance failures, human rights abuses against Kinyarwanda-speaking communities, and reported plans by Tshisekedi to amend the Constitution to extend his rule.
As the conflict in eastern DRC intensifies, Belgium's growing military footprint in the region could further complicate efforts to find a lasting resolution.
Observers warn that backing FARDC's military approach rather than pushing for diplomatic engagement may not only escalate violence but could also backfire on Tshisekedi's administration, prolonging instability in the region.
IGIHE
