Latest news with #Kinshasa-based
Muscat Daily
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Muscat Daily
Is Joseph Kabila's return to Congo a game changer?
Kinshasa, DRC – The Congo River Alliance (AFC) and M23 rebel groups claim Joseph Kabila is in Goma, beyond the reach of Congolese government forces. Kabila, who served as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) head of state from 2001 to 2019, was once a strong ally of incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi. But Kabila recently made headlines after publicly criticising a decision by Tshisekedi's government to remove his immunity from prosecution, despite being declared a 'senator for life' when he stood down in 2019. Tshisekedi's administration has also ramped up verbal attacks on the former president, with Augustin Kabuya, secretary-general of Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), declaring 'Kabila is not Congolese' but rather a 'Rwandan subject'. Some political observers have said Kabila's reemergence in a rebel-held area could jeopardise existing mediation efforts spearheaded by religious leaders. However, Elodie Ntamuzinda, a conflict resolution expert, told DW that sidelining Kabila is counterproductive. 'We encourage the authorities to be able to approach him and that he, too, be open to talks. We believe that the general interest comes first, and we need each other,' Ntamuzinda said. Tresor Kibangula, political director at the Kinshasa-based Ebuteli research institute, described Kabila as a shadow power the government is trying to keep at bay. As the son of the late Congolese President Laurent-Desire Kabila, who opposed the dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko, Joseph Kabila spent much of his youth in Tanzania before becoming a military leader in his father's rebel Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL) in the late 1990s. It is widely believed that Kabila's ADFL rebel group included 'kadogos' (Kiswahili for child soldiers), and when the ADFL ousted Mobutu's regime in 1997, the young Kabila gained further military training abroad before taking up a senior position in the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC). Kabila's tumultuous presidency Laurent Kabila's assassination on January 16, 2001, thrust his son Joseph Kabila, who was just 29 years old at that time, into the presidency. He was reportedly reluctant to be president of the vast mineral-rich country, which was in the midst of the devastating Second Congo War. The conflict broadly pitted pro-government forces and international allies like Angola, Zimbabwe, and Namibia against Rwandan-backed fighters, who had taken over large territories in the eastern DRC. The 2002 Sun City Agreement technically ended the fighting and paved the way for Congo's first democratic election. Kabila won the 2006 election and would lead the Congo until 2018. He tried to keep a stable government, but accusations of incompetence, cronyism and corruption dogged his tenure. Despite relative successes like opening up the country to foreign investors and growing the economy, most Congolese remained below the poverty line. At the same time, the nation's mineral wealth was extracted and shipped out of the country to benefit trade partners. Reelection in 2011 saw Kabila retain power, but his list of enemies grew, and rebel groups such as the Rwandan-backed M23 reappeared. Protests against Kabila's governance and self-enrichment rumours were often violently quashed. When Kabila's term ran out in 2016, he delayed the elections until 2018 and became more unpopular at home and abroad. In addition, the security situation in Congo, despite the presence of multinational forces like SADC and MONUSCO, was becoming untenable. In 2019, Kabila handed over power peacefully to Felix Tshisekedi, although observers expressed distrust in the validity of the election results. Kabila then seemed to retreat from politics. But in 2020, the pair fell out, and the coalition between their political parties ended. Since 2023, Tshisekedi's regime has accused Kabila of siding with the M23. Consequently, Tshisekedi banned Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, and ended his immunity from prosecution, which he had enjoyed as a former president. Is Kabila's influence waning? Kabila's relationship with the Congolese government deteriorated further in 2025. 'There is no strong popular nostalgia for Kabila in the country today,' said political analyst Kibangula. Nevertheless, Tshisekedi has ramped up accusations, saying Kabila was plotting an 'insurrection' with the M23. He has regularly named him the architect of the M23's military success in eastern Congo. In a recent online video address, 53-year-old Kabila broke his silence publicly for the first time after losing his immunity. 'The dictatorship must end, and democracy and good economic and social governance must be restored,' he said. He criticised Tshisekedi's leadership for corruption, undermining democracy and mishandling the violent conflict in the eastern DRC. Deo Bizibu, a member of Tshisekedi's ruling UDPS, accused Kabila of hypocrisy. 'This is a pyromaniac trying to pass himself off as a fireman,' Bizibu told DW, adding that Kabila had spent six years pulling strings, seeking to return to power. 'He should understand that his time is up.' Conflict analyst Philippe Doudou Kaganda told DW that Congolese unity is at stake with Kabila's return. 'We're going to get bogged down in conflict again, and it's going to take on a dimension that's much more internal than external,' he said. 'There's a risk that the discourse around Rwanda will be stifled.' Tshisekedi's government has sought to blame incursions from Rwanda as the cause of instability in eastern Congo. Rwanda has denied the allegations, arguing that the Congolese must handle their security challenges. DW
DW
27-05-2025
- Politics
- DW
Is Joseph Kabila's return to Congo a game changer? – DW – 05/27/2025
The M23-led rebel alliance claims Congo's former leader, Joseph Kabila, is safe in Goma, which is under their control. Kabila is back in the spotlight after criticizing the government of President Felix Tshisekedi. The Congo River Alliance (AFC) and M23 rebel groups claim Joseph Kabila is in Goma, beyond the reach of Congolese government forces. Kabila, who served as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) head of state from 2001 to 2019, was once a strong ally of incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi. But Kabila recently made headlines after publicly criticizing a decision by Tshisekedi's government to remove his immunity from prosecution, despite being declared a "senator for life" when he stood down in 2019. Tshisekedi's administration has also ramped up verbal attacks on the former president, with Augustin Kabuya, secretary-general of Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), declaring "Kabila is not Congolese" but rather a "Rwandan subject." Some political observers have said Kabila's reemergence in a rebel-held area could jeopardize existing mediation efforts spearheaded by religious leaders. However, Elodie Ntamuzinda, a conflict resolution expert, told DW that sidelining Kabila is counterproductive. "We encourage the authorities to be able to approach him and that he, too, be open to talks. We believe that the general interest comes first, and we need each other," Ntamuzinda said. Joseph Kabila became the Congolese president after the assassination of his father, Laurent-Desire Kabila (pictured), in 2001 Image: picture-alliance/AP/D. Guttenfelder Tresor Kibangula, political director at the Kinshasa-based Ebuteli research institute, described Kabila as a shadow power the government is trying to keep at bay. As the son of the late Congolese President Laurent-Desire Kabila, who opposed the dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko, Joseph Kabila spent much of his youth in Tanzania before becoming a military leader in his father's rebel Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL) in the late 1990s. It is widely believed that Kabila's ADFL rebel group included "kadogos" (Kiswahili for child soldiers), and when the ADFL ousted Mobutu's regime in 1997, the young Kabila gained further military training abroad before taking up a senior position in the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC). Kabila's tumultuous presidency Laurent Kabila's assassination on January 16, 2001, thrust his son Joseph Kabila, who was just 29 years old at that time, into the presidency. He was reportedly reluctant to be president of the vast mineral-rich country, which was in the midst of the devastating Second Congo War. The conflict broadly pitted pro-government forces and international allies like Angola, Zimbabwe, and Namibia against Rwandan-backed fighters, who had taken over large territories in the eastern DRC. The 2002 Sun City Agreement technically ended the fighting and paved the way for the DRC's first democratic election. Kabila won the 2006 election and would lead the Congo until 2018. He tried to keep a stable government, but accusations of incompetence, cronyism, and corruption dogged his tenure. Despite relative successes like opening up the country to foreign investors and growing the economy, most Congolese remained below the poverty line. At the same time, the nation's mineral wealth was extracted and shipped out of the country to benefit trade partners. Re-election in 2011 saw Kabila retain power, but his list of enemies grew, and rebel groups such as the Rwandan-backed M23reappeared. Protests against Kabila's governance and self-enrichment rumors were often violently quashed. When Kabila's term ran out in 2016, he delayed the elections until 2018 and became more unpopular at home and abroad. In addition, the security situation in the DRC, despite the presence of multinational forces like SADC and MONUSCO, was becoming untenable. Congo: Land of riches beset by massive exploitation To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In 2019, Kabila handed over power peacefully to Felix Tshisekedi, although observers expressed distrust in the validity of the election results. Kabila then seemed to retreat from politics. But in 2020, the pair fell out, and the coalition between their political parties ended. Since 2023, Tshisekedi's regime has accused Kabila of siding with the M23. Consequently, Tshisekedi banned Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), and ended his immunity from prosecution, which he had enjoyed as a former president. Is Kabila's influence waning? Kabila's relationship with the Congolese government deteriorated further in 2025. "There is no strong popular nostalgia for Kabila in the country today," political analyst Tresor Kibangula told DW. Nevertheless, President Tshisekedi has ramped up accusations, saying Kabila was plotting an "insurrection" with the M23. He has regularly named him the architect of the M23's military success in the eastern DRC. Once allies-turned enemies: Kabila and Tshisekedi during happier times at the 2019 power handover Image: Jerome Delay/dpa/picture alliance In a recent online video address, 53-year-old Kabila broke his silence publicly for the first time after losing his immunity. "The dictatorship must end, and democracy and good economic and social governance must be restored." He criticized Tshisekedi's leadership for corruption, undermining democracy, and mishandling the violent conflict in the eastern DRC. Déo Bizibu, a member of Tshisekedi's ruling UDPS, accused Kabila of hypocrisy. "This is a pyromaniac trying to pass himself off as a fireman," Bizibu told DW, adding that Kabila had spent six years pulling strings, seeking to return to power. "He should understand that his time is up." Why Congo's Tshisekedi wants peace talks with M23 rebels To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Conflict analyst Philippe Doudou Kaganda told DW that Congolese unity is at stake with Kabila's return. "We're going to get bogged down in conflict again, and it's going to take on a dimension that's much more internal than external," he said. "There's a risk that the discourse around Rwanda will be stifled." Tshisekedi's government has sought to blame incursions from Rwanda as the cause of instability in the eastern DRC. Rwanda denies the allegations and argues that the Congolese must handle their security challenges. Edited by: Chrispin Mwakideu
DW
27-05-2025
- Politics
- DW
DRC: Is ex-President Joseph Kabila's return a game changer? – DW – 05/27/2025
The M23-led rebel alliance claims that former Congolese President Joseph Kabila is safe in Goma, which is under their control. Kabila is back in the spotlight after criticizing President Felix Tshisekedi's government. The Congo River Alliance (AFC) and M23 rebel groups claim Joseph Kabila is in Goma, beyond the reach of Congolese government forces. Kabila, who served as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) head of state from 2001 to 2019, was once a strong ally of incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi. Kabila recently made headlines after publicly criticizing a decision by Tshisekedi's government to remove his immunity from prosecution, despite being declared a 'senator for life' when he stood down in 2019. Tshisekedi's administration has also ramped up verbal attacks on the former president, with Augustin Kabuya, Secretary-General of Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), declaring "Kabila is not Congolese" but rather a "Rwandan subject." Some political observers say Kabila's re-emergence in a rebel-held area could jeopardize existing mediation efforts spearheaded by religious leaders. However, Élodie Ntamuzinda, a conflict resolution expert, told DW that sidelining Kabila is counterproductive: "We encourage the authorities to be able to approach him and that he too be open to talks. We believe that the general interest comes first, and we need each other," Ntamuzinda said. Joseph Kabila became the Congolese president after the assassination of his father, Laurent-Désiré Kabila (pictured), in 2001 Image: picture-alliance/AP/D. Guttenfelder Tresor Kibangula, political director at the Kinshasa-based Ebuteli research institute, described former President Joseph Kabila as a shadow power the government is trying to keep at bay. As the son of the late Congolese President Laurent Desire Kabila, who opposed the dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko, Joseph Kabila spent much of his youth in Tanzania before becoming a military leader in his father's rebel Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL) in the late 1990s. It is widely believed that Kabila's ADFL rebel group included 'kadogos' (Kiswahili for child soldiers), and when the ADFL ousted Mobutu's regime in 1997, the young Joseph Kabila gained further military training abroad before taking up a senior position in the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC). Kabila's tumultuous presidency Laurent Kabila's assassination on January 16, 2001, thrust his son Joseph Kabila, who was just 29 years old at that time, into the presidency. He was reportedly reluctant to be president of the vast mineral-rich country, which was in the midst of the devastating Second Congo War. The conflict broadly pitted pro-government forces and international allies like Angola, Zimbabwe, and Namibia against Rwandan-backed fighters, who had taken over large territories in the eastern DRC. The 2002 Sun City Agreement technically ended the fighting and paved the way for the DRC's first democratic election. Kabila won the 2006 election and would lead the Congo until 2018. He tried to keep a stable government, but accusations of incompetence, cronyism, and corruption dogged his tenure. Despite relative successes like opening up the country to foreign investors and growing the economy, most Congolese remained below the poverty line. At the same time, the nation's mineral wealth was extracted and shipped out of the country to benefit trade partners. Re-election in 2011 saw Kabila retain power, but his list of enemies grew, and rebel groups such as the Rwandan-backed M23reappeared. Protests against Kabila's governance and self-enrichment rumors were often violently quashed. When Kabila's term ran out in 2016, he delayed the elections until 2018 and became more unpopular at home and abroad. In addition, the security situation in the DRC, despite the presence of multinational forces like SADC and MONUSCO, was becoming untenable. Congo: Land of riches beset by massive exploitation To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In 2019, Kabila handed over power peacefully to Felix Tshisekedi, although observers expressed distrust in the validity of the election results. Kabila then seemed to retreat from politics. But in 2020, the pair fell out, and the coalition between their political parties ended. Since 2023, Tshisekedi's regime has accused Kabila of siding with the M23. Consequently, Tshisekedi banned Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), and ended his immunity from prosecution, which he had enjoyed as a former president. Is Kabila's influence waning? Kabila's relationship with the Congolese government deteriorated further in 2025. "There is no strong popular nostalgia for Kabila in the country today," political analyst Tresor Kibangula told DW. Nevertheless, President Tshisekedi has ramped up accusations, saying Kabila was plotting an "insurrection" with the M23. He has regularly named him the architect of the M23's military success in the eastern DRC. Once allies-turned enemies: Kabila and Tshisekedi during happier times at the 2019 power handover Image: Jerome Delay/dpa/picture alliance In a recent online video address, 53-year-old Kabila broke his silence publicly for the first time after losing his immunity. "The dictatorship must end, and democracy and good economic and social governance must be restored." He criticized Tshisekedi's leadership for corruption, undermining democracy, and mishandling the violent conflict in the eastern DRC. Déo Bizibu, a member of Tshisekedi's ruling UDPS, accused Kabila of hypocrisy. "This is a pyromaniac trying to pass himself off as a fireman," Bizibu told DW, adding that Kabila had spent six years pulling strings, seeking to return to power. "He should understand that his time is up." Why Congo's Tshisekedi wants peace talks with M23 rebels To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Conflict analyst Philippe Doudou Kaganda told DW that Congolese unity is at stake with Kabila's return. "We're going to get bogged down in conflict again, and it's going to take on a dimension that's much more internal than external," he said. "There's a risk that the discourse around Rwanda will be stifled." Tshisekedi's government has sought to blame incursions from Rwanda as the cause of instability in the eastern DRC. Rwanda denies the allegations and argues that the Congolese must handle their security challenges. Edited by: Chrispin Mwakideu
Asharq Al-Awsat
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Anxiety Rises in DR Congo Capital as M23 Rebels Advance in East
As Rwanda-backed rebels strolled through the streets of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's second-largest city, President Felix Tshisekedi's office claimed it was actually still controlled by his army and "valiant" allied forces. It was the latest jarring move from the 61-year-old leader that has fueled a sense of worry and panic 1,600 km (1,000 miles) away in the capital Kinshasa, where some residents are looking to move their families abroad amid open talk of a coup. "There was never any question of fighting in Bukavu. It was clear to all the people on the ground that the Rwandans and their auxiliaries were going to make their entry," said one army general who expressed bafflement at a statement issued by the president's office on Sunday. Tshisekedi, he added, "doesn't have the right sources." Anxiety is visible on the streets of Kinshasa as the army puts up limited resistance against the M23 group's advance and residents question whether Tshisekedi grasps the risk it poses. Embassies have begun using armored vehicles for trips to the airport and sending some staff across the Congo River to Brazzaville, capital of Republic of Congo. Three Kinshasa-based government officials told Reuters they were making arrangements to get their families out of the country. Banker Matondo Arnold said he had already sent his family to Brazzaville after the rebels seized Goma, eastern Congo's biggest city, in late January. "We never imagined Goma could fall," he said. As talk about a possible coup spread, Justice Minister Constant Mutamba said on X that Congolese "will not accept any coup that involves the Rwandan army to destabilize the country's institutions." But even a member of Tshisekedi's Sacred Union coalition said the anxiety was unmistakable. "Oh yes, it's panic. Some people are desperate and they are courting embassies" in search of an exit. SUMMIT SNUB This M23 advance is the gravest escalation in more than a decade of the long-running conflict in eastern Congo, rooted in the spillover of Rwanda's 1994 genocide into Congo and the struggle for control of Congo's vast minerals resources. Rwanda rejects allegations from Congo, the United Nations and Western powers that it supports M23 with arms and troops. It says it is defending itself against the threat from a Hutu militia, which it says is fighting with the Congolese military. As the hunt for a diplomatic resolution stalls, with Tshisekedi refusing to negotiate with the rebels, his camp faults the international community for failing to stand up to Rwanda by imposing sanctions. "It's not a bad thing to refuse dialogue with an armed group like M23. The M23 is Rwanda," said a lawmaker close to the president. "Why doesn't the West do anything?" Tshisekedi has skipped two African-organized meetings this month addressing the fighting - a joint summit in Dar es Salaam of Southern and Eastern African leaders and the annual African Union summit in Addis Ababa. Instead, he travelled to the Munich Security Conference where he accused his predecessor Joseph Kabila of sponsoring M23's military campaign, which Kabila's camp denied. The decision by Tshisekedi, who spent much of his life in Brussels, to fly to Europe drew derision from the Congolese political establishment. "The fact that an African president snubs the African Union summit and prefers instead a security conference in Europe is indicative of who sustains him," said one former senior official. Some members of Congo's fractious opposition are openly predicting Tshisekedi will not last. "His lack of legitimacy is now proven, making him less and less listened to and more and more rejected by the population every day," said Olivier Kamitatu, a Kabila-era minister and spokesperson for opposition politician Moise Katumbi. "Tshisekedi did not understand the issues of the country and the region. He did not have enough intellectual heft to lead Congo," said Martin Fayulu, who came in second in the 2018 election that brought Tshisekedi to power. But it is unclear who could pose the most legitimate challenge to Tshisekedi, said Congolese analyst Bob Kabamba of the University of Liege in Belgium. "With the capture of Goma and Bukavu, no one is sure of Tshisekedi's ability to control the security and political situation," he said.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anxiety rises in DR Congo capital as M23 rebels advance in east
By Ange Kasongo and Sonia Rolley KINSHASA (Reuters) - As Rwanda-backed rebels strolled through the streets of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's second-largest city, President Felix Tshisekedi's office claimed it was actually still controlled by his army and "valiant" allied forces. It was the latest jarring move from the 61-year-old leader that has fuelled a sense of worry and panic 1,600 km (1,000 miles) away in the capital Kinshasa, where some residents are looking to move their families abroad amid open talk of a coup. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. "There was never any question of fighting in Bukavu. It was clear to all the people on the ground that the Rwandans and their auxiliaries were going to make their entry," said one army general who expressed bafflement at a statement issued by the president's office on Sunday. Tshisekedi, he added, "doesn't have the right sources." Anxiety is visible on the streets of Kinshasa as the army puts up limited resistance against the M23 group's advance and residents question whether Tshisekedi grasps the risk it poses. Embassies have begun using armoured vehicles for trips to the airport and sending some staff across the Congo River to Brazzaville, capital of Republic of Congo. Three Kinshasa-based government officials told Reuters they were making arrangements to get their families out of the country. Banker Matondo Arnold said he had already sent his family to Brazzaville after the rebels seized Goma, eastern Congo's biggest city, in late January. "We never imagined Goma could fall," he said. As talk about a possible coup spread, Justice Minister Constant Mutamba said on X that Congolese "will not accept any coup that involves the Rwandan army to destabilize the country's institutions." But even a member of Tshisekedi's Sacred Union coalition said the anxiety was unmistakable. "Oh yes, it's panic. Some people are desperate and they are courting embassies" in search of an exit. SUMMIT SNUB This M23 advance is the gravest escalation in more than a decade of the long-running conflict in eastern Congo, rooted in the spillover of Rwanda's 1994 genocide into Congo and the struggle for control of Congo's vast minerals resources. Rwanda rejects allegations from Congo, the United Nations and Western powers that it supports M23 with arms and troops. It says it is defending itself against the threat from a Hutu militia, which it says is fighting with the Congolese military. As the hunt for a diplomatic resolution stalls, with Tshisekedi refusing to negotiate with the rebels, his camp faults the international community for failing to stand up to Rwanda by imposing sanctions. "It's not a bad thing to refuse dialogue with an armed group like M23. The M23 is Rwanda," said a lawmaker close to the president. "Why doesn't the West do anything?" Tshisekedi has skipped two African-organised meetings this month addressing the fighting - a joint summit in Dar es Salaam of Southern and Eastern African leaders and the annual African Union summit in Addis Ababa. Instead he travelled to the Munich Security Conference where he accused his predecessor Joseph Kabila of sponsoring M23's military campaign, which Kabila's camp denied. The decision by Tshisekedi, who spent much of his life in Brussels, to fly to Europe drew derision from the Congolese political establishment. "The fact that an African president snubs the African Union summit and prefers instead a security conference in Europe is indicative of who sustains him," said one former senior official. Some members of Congo's fractious opposition are openly predicting Tshisekedi will not last. "His lack of legitimacy is now proven, making him less and less listened to and more and more rejected by the population every day," said Olivier Kamitatu, a Kabila-era minister and spokesperson for opposition politician Moise Katumbi. "Tshisekedi did not understand the issues of the country and the region. He did not have enough intellectual heft to lead Congo," said Martin Fayulu, who came in second in the 2018 election that brought Tshisekedi to power. But it is unclear who could pose the most legitimate challenge to Tshisekedi, said Congolese analyst Bob Kabamba of the University of Liege in Belgium. "With the capture of Goma and Bukavu, no one is sure of Tshisekedi's ability to control the security and political situation," he said. (Rolley reported from Paris; Additional reporting by Giulia Paravicini in Nairobi; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
