Kabila halts his education to “address the deteriorating circumstances” in the eastern DRC

Joseph Kabila, the former president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has stated that he had to halt his University of Johannesburg studies in order to concentrate on the worsening circumstances in his nation.

In an interview with Namibia’s state broadcaster, the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation, Kabila made the claim. Kabila traveled to the southern African nation to see the funeral of Sam Nujoma, the country’s first president.

Kabila said that he was involved in a variety of pursuits, including academia, when asked what he had been doing since stepping down as president in 2019.

As required by the Constitution, we stepped down from office and have since engaged in a variety of endeavors, including scholarly endeavors, which we want to carry on with. That being said, we must make sure the DRC doesn’t fail if the situation back home keeps getting worse. We are here to help, and we are doing exactly what we think has to be done to keep things from getting worse, which is, regrettably, what is occurring right now,” he said.

He said, “Yes, studying at the University of Johannesburg, which I have now suspended,” when asked if his academic endeavors included attending the University of Johannesburg. To give the problem back home more time and attention, we halted our academic pursuits two or three months ago.

“I’ve never been in the background.”

In response to rumors that he was “coming out of the shadows,” Kabila denied them.

“Those reports are inaccurate. I’ve always been in the light, never in the shadows. I was just preoccupied with something else, and I always want to focus entirely on my work in order to achieve success. He clarified, “You can multitask, but multitasking is not an option when dealing with serious issues.”

Kabila reaffirmed that although he had been addressing important issues in the DR Congo and in his academic career, his nation is now his first focus.

When asked what he thinks of the claims that many people, particularly those in his own party, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), are looking to him to help stabilize the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kabila stressed that no one person could address the problems facing the nation.

There are 120 million people living in the Congo. It has neighbors from all over southern Africa, including Namibia and South Africa, in addition to those right next to it. Whether individually or collectively, I think every Congolese person has a part to play,” he stated.

He also emphasized the region’s responsibility to contribute to the crises’ resolution.

“We could have preferred a different approach, and most likely a better one, than what has been taken. But in the end, what matters most are good intentions. Channeling all of these good intentions and producing enough positive energy to deal with the issue is what is important right now.

Kabila said that his political platform and party are still actively working to promote national unity, peace, and stability in the nation.

“This has contributed to the current crisis and is one of the major elements lacking in the DRC today,” he said.

Kabila was questioned on whether he should be viewed as a major mediator in the current crisis and about his involvement in the 2008 peace agreement with rebel groups in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

We have always placed a high priority on peace because we know that without it, development—the ultimate objective of any government—cannot be accomplished. Without peace, people cannot succeed economically, and if injustices persist, peace cannot exist,” he said.

Not only in 2008, but many agreements had been struck throughout the years, Kabila recalled. He emphasized the 2001–2002 Lusaka Agreement, which created a transitional government until 2006 and resulted in the Sun City Agreement.

Indeed, our government had to deal with uprisings, particularly in the East. By addressing issues through military capacity-building and discussions, we were able to bring peace to 98 percent of the region,” he stated.

Kabila claims that fundamental problems with governance, inequalities, and constitutional infractions are among the primary reasons of the current crisis. He pointed out that foreign actors are frequently drawn to internal instability, making matters worse.

Kabila remembered the daring choice made in 2001 to withdraw foreign forces as a step toward peace.

“We felt that in order to bring about peace and give the Congolese people the freedom to settle their own problems, all foreign soldiers had to withdraw from the DRC. Whether motivated by bravery or youth, this choice resulted in the majority of foreign forces leaving, leaving the Congolese to manage their own affairs with assistance from the UN and other regional and international organizations.

He did concede, though, that a similar strategy today could not always have the same outcomes and would need careful consideration.

“Without several foreign armies fighting it out, including mercenaries and hundreds of armed groups, a country must be sovereign within its borders, making sovereign decisions.”

Regarding the DR Congo crisis mediation efforts

Speaking about mediation initiatives, such as those spearheaded by Kenyan President William Ruto, Kabila suggested that direct communication with Congolese civilians is essential to finding a solution.

“I would advise anyone who wants it to speak with Congolese people. They are the ones who are most aware of their misery. “No mediator can claim to understand the DRC better than its people, even though mediators from West Africa and other regions may have good intentions,” he stated.

He underlined that three essential components are needed for mediation to be successful: involving the Congolese people, guaranteeing goodwill, and creating assurances that efforts would result in enduring peace.

“I don’t have all the details, and the process is still in its early stages. I shall thus abstain from discussing President Ruto’s ideas or any other initiatives, including those of religious leaders. We will evaluate these interventions’ efficacy over time.

In response to a question concerning his connection with current President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kabila recalled that they had first established a coalition government following his departure.

When President Félix determined he no longer needed a coalition government, it was unilaterally terminated. We noted that determination.