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The December elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were eagerly awaited, especially after the questionable peaceful transition of 2018 between President Kabila and President Tshisekedi. Benjamin Rwizibuka, from our Companion Diocese of Bukavu, is worriedAfter five years marked by embezzlement, impunity and very little progress, the coming quinquennium should promise renewal and hope. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) was expected to oversee transparent and fair elections.However, possession of ballot papers by the presidential party, the organisation of votes in military camps, military schools and in the headquarters of political parties close to Tshisekedi, highlight some of the irregularities of December’s ballot and have been denounced by the National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (CENCO).The next five years are likely to resemble the previous five, especially since the same actors from the past legislature, accused of embezzlement, tribalism, influence peddling and corruption, will certainly occupy key positions in the new government.Despite Moise Katumbi’s opposition party’s claims of ‘sham’ elections, CENI has declared Tshisekedi the winner with more than 70% of votes cast - this has also been confirmed by the constitutional court.Among the endless projects awaiting the new government is the revival of the economy and national security. To revive the economy, it would be enough, for example, to invest in agriculture and local businesses, which can generate thousands of jobs and contribute to food security. Unfortunately, these types of measures never go beyond the announcement stage while poverty and malnutrition affect more than 27 million Congolese.The Rwanda connection(c) Julien HarneisSecurity is even more complex as some rebel groups are supported by foreign countries, such as the Rwanda-backed M23 alliance. The conflict with Rwanda started in 1994 when armed and civilian Hutus entered Congo; then in 1996 the Rwandan army came to annihilate the Hutus in DRC. These events foreshadowed the chaos of today: more than ten million Congolese deaths since then, millions internally displaced and horror stories which are worse than what is happening in Gaza.The news of the deportation of illegal immigrants from the UK to Rwanda is not seen as a gift for us in DRC. If Rwanda receives funds from the UK, thus funding the M23 rebels, then we can legitimately think that, intentionally or not, this will fund the chaotic genocide happening in the east of DRC engendered by M23 and Rwanda. And it is here that the British government’s responsibilities should be questioned.