Former President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila Kabange, has been seen in areas controlled by the AFC/M23 coalition, the Alliance opposing the Kinshasa government, at a time when tensions and deepening conflict persist between President Tshisekedi’s administration and opposition groups.
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This news was released early Monday morning by senior leaders of the coalition, including Col. Willy Ngoma, the M23 military spokesperson, and Lawrence Kanyuka, the political spokesperson of the AFC.
Col. Ngoma stated: “ARC/AFC is pleased to announce that the former Head of State and life senator, a fighter for the people, Joseph Kabila Kabange, has been received with honor.”
This development follows a decision made last Thursday by the DRC Senate to strip Kabila of the immunity he held as a life senator, following a request by the Chief Auditor of the Armed Forces (FARDC). Kabila is accused of serious crimes including treason and collaboration with M23/AFC.
Last week, Kabila had denied reports from the Kinshasa government that he had arrived in Goma, calling them “outright lies.”
However, in that same statement, he hinted that he might visit the region “in the near future” and strongly criticized the government’s decision to suspend his political party and launch a manhunt against him, calling it evidence of “the end of democracy in the DRC.”
In a speech last Friday, Kabila said: “Our government has made a decision that confirms there is no longer democracy in our country.”
Since the Kinshasa government began negotiations with M23 in recent times, Kabila has argued that there is no reason why other Congolese citizens should be forbidden from engaging with the coalition, which he views as one of the many political groups addressing the people’s grievances.
Kabila’s alignment with the AFC/M23 comes at a time when analysts believe it may signal a major shift in Congo’s political landscape and could accelerate the downfall of the current regime or pave the way for a broader, multi-party effort to end the country’s prolonged instability.
This development adds more fuel to the ongoing political and security crisis in the DRC, where large portions of the country continue to fall under M23/AFC control, while President Tshisekedi’s government is increasingly losing credibility both domestically and internationally.
Kabila’s alliance with the AFC/M23 coalition marks the beginning of a new political battle in the DRC. Many are now wondering whether this is the start of a revival of his political party, a new wave of pressure on Tshisekedi’s government, or a move toward broader national dialogue in a country whose institutions are in disarray.
