Browsing: Joseph Kabila

• For some, the reappearance of a once-powerful strongman Joseph Kabila raises concerns about instability; for others, it sparks speculation about whether he is staging a calculated return to power—or simply creating noise to protect old interests.
• This environment is fertile ground for political disruption—and Kabila, a man who led Congo for nearly two decades — knows this terrain very
• Already, the Congo River Alliance and M23 factions are actively welcoming his presence, and Congolese authorities have been unable to control his movements in the east.

When Joseph Kabila, the former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), reemerged in the rebel-controlled flashpoint of Goma earlier this year, it sent ripples through a nation already navigating fragile peace talks and deep political uncertainty. For some, the reappearance of a once-powerful strongman raised concerns about instability; for others, it sparked speculation about whether Kabila is staging a calculated return to power—or …

• This year, Joseph Kabila’s political comeback gained traction amid mounting tensions with the President Félix Tshisekedi administration, which accused him of plotting insurrection and revoked his immunity from prosecution.
• His recent reemergence, particularly in M23-held Goma, has sparked a flurry of debate: is this the calculated return of a power-hungry strongman, or the quiet evolution of a statesman ready to contribute to peace and reform?

When Joseph Kabila handed over power in 2019 after 18 turbulent years at the helm of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), it was seen as a rare peaceful transition in a nation often synonymous with war, death, disease and hopelessness under the shadow of vast mineral wealth.

Since then, the former president has kept a notably low profile—until a couple of months now. His recent reemergence, particularly in M23-held flashpoint of Goma, has sparked a flurry of debate: is this the calculated return of …

• Defiant ex-DRC president Joseph Kabila says he has returned to the DRC to “participate in peace efforts”, but his successor, Felix Tshisekedi accuses him of backing the M23 rebels.
• An aide to Joseph Kabila, who left the DRC in 2023, announced that he is seeking “to take part in efforts to find peace in the country.”
• DRC’s conflict, which has been persistent for decades, worsened in January when M23 rebels seized Goma city and soon after, Bukavu.

The roiling crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has taken a fresh twist with former President Joseph Kabila now being directly linked to the M23 rebels, who have claimed large swathes of land in the mineral rich area.

Last week former President Joseph Kabila, who has been residing in South Africa, was warmly received in rebel-held Goma city just days after making a public appearance in Kigali Rwanda, expressing his intent …