Ex-DR Congo President Kabila Condemns Government After Treason Charges

In a live speech after his immunity was lifted, former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila denounced the current government as dictatorial, linking it to ongoing instability and conflict with rebel groups. He proposed a plan to improve the nation's security and criticized the handling of the economy and military.

Joseph Kabila, the former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has emerged with a scathing rebuke of the current administration, labeling it as a "dictatorship." In a 45-minute address broadcast live on YouTube from an undisclosed location, Kabila spoke out one day after the Senate revoked his immunity from prosecution for alleged treason and war crimes associated with the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels.

Kabila, who led DR Congo from 2001 to 2019, expressed alarm at the potential for division within the nation and outlined a 12-point strategy aimed at addressing decades of persistent insecurity in the conflict-ridden eastern regions. Analysts fear that any legal trial of Kabila could further deepen the turmoil that has engulfed the country since the M23 rebellion began in 2012.

During his presentation, which commenced and concluded with the national anthem, Kabila, dressed in formal attire adorned with a Congolese flag pin, criticized the "arbitrary decisions" recently enacted by President Félix Tshisekedi's government. He referenced the government's prohibition on his political party, the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), and the subsequent seizure of his assets as indicative of the deteriorating democracy in DR Congo.

Kabila has been living abroad, mainly in South Africa, where he went to pursue a doctorate. He announced plans to visit Goma, a region controlled by the M23 faction since January, emphasizing that he does not fear arrest there. His speech included severe critiques directed at the president and national parliament for neglecting constitutional integrity and failing to hold the government accountable, as well as lamenting the soaring public debt exceeding $10 billion.

In stark terms, he condemned the current government's security strategies, denouncing the transformation of the national army into what he termed "mercenary bands" and foreign armed factions. He specifically alluded to groups such as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), involved in the tragic events during the Rwandan genocide.

Kabila called for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from DR Congo, welcoming a decision by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to withdraw its forces supporting the national army against the M23. He reflected on his time in office, claiming that national achievements have been rapidly squandered and warned of the nation’s precarious state, now closer to collapse and fraught with corruption.

The reactions to his address have been mixed, noting the irony in Kabila's criticisms that echo previous allegations against his own administration. He closed his speech by asserting the necessity to restore democracy and enhance governance in the country. Amidst these tensions, early signs of potential peace negotiations have surfaced between DR Congo and Rwanda, potentially paving a path towards resolution.