Bisiimwa, M23 leader, defends connections to Kabila

As political tensions and instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continue to rise, M23 rebel leader Bertrand Bisimwa has provided clarification on the group’s relationship to former President Joseph Kabila.

Despite the scandals around him, Bisimwa emphasized that Kabila should be honored for his previous leadership and that he has the same rights as any other Congolese citizen to participate with opposition movements.

We often forget that Kabila is a citizen of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As such, he has the same rights as any other Congolese citizen. In addition, Bisimwa told reporters on Sunday, “We respect him in that capacity because he led this country and was the president of Congo. He should be respected for that fact and for what he did for the country, both good and bad.”

He added that M23 and Kabila have formed an alliance since they both oppose the current administration.

The same side

Since M23 and Kabila are now in the opposition, we are all in agreement when we condemn the government for the injustices and poor leadership we observe throughout the nation. This explains our relationship with Kabila,” Bisimwa stated.

His comments were made just hours before Lawrence Kanyuka, a spokesman for the M23, revealed that Kabila had arrived in Goma, a key city that is now ruled by rebels.

Joseph Kabila, the former president of the DRC, has reached Goma. We hope he had a good time in the freed territories,” Kanyuka wrote on X in the early hours of Sunday.

The former president’s return to the Democratic Republic of the Congo comes at a critical juncture, as the Senate of the DRC secretly voted to remove his immunity, making him vulnerable to prosecution. The vote, which was 88 in favor and 5 against, came after Kinshasa claimed that Kabila had ties to the M23 movement.

War crimes charges and treason

The former head of state is accused of treason, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and involvement in an insurgency movement by intelligence authorities in the capital. With the claims, the government’s attitude toward the man who led the DRC for almost 20 years before resigning in 2018 has dramatically changed.

Kabila has attacked the legal system in the nation and strongly refuted the accusations.

Regarding the legal system, it has openly disregarded its duties and allowed itself to be used for political purposes. In an address given Friday night from an unidentified location, Kabila stated, “Therefore, it is nothing more than an instrument of oppression for a dictatorship striving for survival.”

Declaring that Congo’s sovereignty cannot be compromised, he also demanded that all foreign forces leave the country’s territory.

He said, “As a soldier, I vowed to defend my country to the highest sacrifice… I am more devoted than ever to this oath.”