Kabila: DR Congo needs to address its issues and quit assigning blame

Joseph Kabila, the former president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has asked the nation to accept responsibility for its internal issues rather than placing the blame for its current situation on outside parties, such as Rwanda.

“Congo cannot continue to be this crybaby in the region, talking about how weak it is and how strong everybody else is—that is not the right approach,” Former South African President Thabo Mbeki met with Kabila on March 18 in Johannesburg, where he told reporters.

Kabila also addressed the charges made by his predecessor that Rwanda is supporting the AFC/M23 insurgents, pointing him that the true problem is in DR Congo.

“Who is to blame if I am weak? He asked, “Is it my fault, my neighbor’s fault, or my enemy’s fault?” and urged Congolese leadership to examine themselves rather than assigning blame.

Congo should examine the internal dynamics of the nation’s events rather than focusing on assigning blame and assuming that everything that occurs is the fault of someone else. There comes a time when we must question ourselves, Are we not the issue? And as Congolese, how can we resolve it? He went on.

Kabila also made a clear reference to President Félix Tshisekedi, saying that he is ultimately responsible for finding a solution to the nation’s problems.

Additionally, he called Tshisekedi’s claims that he is responsible for the AFC/M23 insurgents’ takeover of two significant cities in eastern DR Congo since January “baseless.”

“The current state of affairs would be different if I were an accomplice of the M23. “Ask Tshisekedi to give you proof to back up his claims,” he continued.

Kabila claimed that he committed “mistakes” by backing Tshisekedi when he took office in 2019 and that the current turmoil is the consequence of constitutional and rule of law transgressions.

“President Felix is the issue, and he is also the answer… In times of crisis, you must come up with crucial solutions and make critical judgments. For Congo, this is a crucial time,” he stated.

He expressed his displeasure with the decades-long instability that has afflicted the nation. “The Congolese situation shouldn’t be reoccurring, with peace lasting a while before fighting breaks out again. That is not fair to the Congolese people. We need to return to the fundamentals and consider our mistakes.

He added that his meetings with opposition Congolese MPs in recent weeks were intended to address the issue of the Congolese people being marginalized in talks and attempts to bring peace to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Except for the Congolese, everyone else is discussing the Congo. They disregard the Congolese themselves. He suggested, “Let’s get together, examine everyone’s role, and work for peace.”

Kabila emphasized that without the participation and dedication of its own citizens, no outside intervention could bring about enduring peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“Without the knowledge and role of the Congolese themselves, there is nothing new or effective that an outside party will bring forward for the Congo crisis,” he said.