Written by Lisa Murimi
As war clouds gather over eastern Congo, former President Joseph Kabila has reemerged — not in Kinshasa’s polished halls, but in Goma, a city now gripped by rebel control.
His presence, sudden and symbolic, has reignited fears and deepened divisions.
M23 rebel leader Bertrand Bisimwa broke his silence Sunday, defending Kabila against rising accusations of treason, war crimes, and betrayal.
In a voice marked by defiance, Bisimwa declared, “First, Kabila is a Congolese citizen, something we seem to forget most of the time, and he has a right like any other Congolese citizen. Secondly, he was the president of Congo, led this country, and should be respected for that fact and what he did for the country, the good and the bad, and we respect him in that capacity.”
Their alliance, he explained, is not born of conspiracy, but of shared disillusionment.
“Kabila is now in the opposition, and M23 is also in the opposition, so we are all on the same side when we criticise the government for the wrongs and bad governance we see in the country. This is why we have a relationship with Kabila,” Bisimwa said.
Just hours later, M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka confirmed what many had feared: Kabila had arrived in Goma.
“Former DRC President Joseph Kabila has arrived in the city of Goma. We wish him a pleasant stay in the liberated areas,” Kanyuka posted on X early Sunday.
Kabila’s return comes just days after the Senate voted to strip him of immunity, clearing the path for prosecution.
Kinshasa accuses him of backing M23, fueling insurrection, and betraying the very country he once swore to protect.
In a fiery speech from an undisclosed location, Kabila struck back. “As for the justice system … it has completely abdicated its responsibilities, allowing itself to be openly exploited for political ends. It is therefore nothing more than an instrument of oppression for a dictatorship desperately trying to survive,”
“As a soldier, I swore to defend my country to the supreme sacrifice … I remain more faithful than ever to this oath,” he declared.
