As the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to mourn the unexpected death of Lieutenant General Sikatenda Shabani, a former high-ranking officer in the Congolese army, former President Joseph Kabila Kabange has pointed a finger at the current administration led by Félix Tshisekedi, accusing it of having a hand in the general’s death at the age of 83.
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Lt Gen Sikatenda, who had retired from military service, died on the morning of June 4, 2025, while in detention, where he had been held since November 2023 on undisclosed charges and without ever appearing before a court.
Joseph Kabila, who is currently in eastern Congo, expressed deep sorrow over the death, saying: “I pay tribute to the memory of this senior military officer who was in retirement, a comrade in arms of the late Laurent-Désiré Kabila, who watched me grow up and guided me.”
He added that Lt Gen Sikatenda was one of many innocent individuals mistreated by the Tshisekedi regime, stating: “He was arrested and detained since November 2023 without trial, ultimately dying due to mistreatment.”
He concluded by saying: “He is among the many innocent people who were persecuted for holding dissenting views against a repressive regime.”
Sikatenda Shabani was a key military figure in the struggle to liberate Congo during the 1990s. He was part of the AFDL (Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo), led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila.
During that campaign, he played a crucial role in the negotiations that allowed the AFDL to advance to Kinshasa after being blocked in Kalemie, where some Babembe fighters had closed off the route. Sikatenda’s Babembe background was instrumental in reopening both political and military pathways.
After Laurent Kabila seized power in 1997, Sikatenda was appointed head of the military intelligence agency (DEMIAP), a position he held until 1998 when the RCD-Goma rebellion emerged.
Following years of political turmoil, he returned to military leadership, serving as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces from 2003 to 2009, during the transitional period and after the first democratic elections in 2006.
The death of Gen Sikatenda has exposed major flaws in the justice system of the DRC. The fact that such a patriotic and honorable man, who fought for the independence and unity of the country, could be detained for over a year without trial and then die in custody has sparked widespread debate across the country and abroad.
Human rights organizations are calling for an independent investigation, free from state interference, to uncover the true cause of death and ensure justice for detainees held without trial.
As President Tshisekedi’s government continues to face criticism for detaining political opponents, the death of Lt Gen Sikatenda has cast a dark shadow over the justice system and the safety of both civilians and retired military officers.
