Faith Nyasuguta
Former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila has openly criticized the leadership of his successor, Felix Tshisekedi, accusing him of worsening the conflict in the country’s volatile eastern region.
In an opinion piece published in South Africa’s Sunday Times, Kabila argued that poor governance, rather than external threats alone, is at the heart of the growing crisis.
Kabila contends that the violence in eastern DRC cannot simply be blamed on the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group or tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali. Instead, he points to Tshisekedi’s leadership, which he claims has deepened instability since he took office in 2019.
“Since Tshisekedi became president, the DRC has been pushed to the brink of collapse,” Kabila wrote, highlighting that the government’s failure to address internal political issues has allowed armed groups like M23 to thrive.
The M23, which says it is defending the rights of the DRC’s minority Tutsi population, has seized significant territory in eastern Congo since restarting its offensive in 2021. Despite international pressure, the group continues to expand its control, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
Kabila also dismissed the results of the December 2023 presidential elections, which handed Tshisekedi a second term in a landslide victory, calling them a “sham.” He accused the current government of using intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings to silence critics, pushing opposition figures, journalists, and even church leaders into exile.
He warned that such practices risk plunging the country into deeper chaos. “The repeated massacres of our people and violations of human rights by security forces will not end simply by defeating M23 or negotiating with Rwanda,” Kabila stressed.
He argued that ignoring the internal governance issues, while focusing only on military solutions,would leave the DRC vulnerable to continued political instability, armed conflict, and even civil war.
The worsening security situation has already drawn in regional actors. South Africa has deployed over 1,000 troops as part of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission to help stabilize eastern DRC. However, the mission has faced setbacks, with 14 South African soldiers killed last month.
Kabila’s sharp critique highlights the deep political fractures within the DRC, underscoring that without reforms and a focus on governance, peace in the region will remain elusive.
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