Former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila has broken his silence, launching a scathing attack on the government of his successor, President Félix Tshisekedi, days after the Senate lifted his immunity to pave way for treason and war crimes charges.
In a 45-minute speech streamed live on YouTube from an undisclosed location on Friday evening, the 53-year-old accused the current administration of running a “dictatorship” and plunging the country into chaos. Kabila, who led the DRC from 2001 to 2019, said he felt compelled to speak out due to a growing threat to national unity.
The government has linked Kabila to the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, which has seized control of key towns in eastern DRC. Kabila denied any wrongdoing, criticizing what he called arbitrary actions against him and his party, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), which was recently banned and had its assets seized.
Dressed in a navy suit adorned with a Congolese flag pin, Kabila outlined a 12-point plan to restore peace in the troubled east. He called for the withdrawal of all foreign troops, denounced the government’s reliance on tribal militias and pro-government armed groups, and accused the justice system of being manipulated for political ends.
He also lambasted the government’s economic performance, citing a public debt surge to over $10 billion and increased corruption. “In just six years, we are back to being a failed, divided, disintegrated state,” he warned.
Kabila also questioned the legitimacy of Tshisekedi’s efforts at dialogue with M23 while sidelining other peace initiatives led by religious groups. He welcomed the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) decision to pull its troops out of the DRC, suggesting it was time to pursue inclusive, national peace efforts.
The government has yet to respond officially to Kabila’s claims. However, critics argue that many of his complaints mirror accusations made against his own administration. Still, his return to the political spotlight could further inflame tensions in a country already grappling with insecurity and political uncertainty.
