

Tanzania: Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) – Public Statement (30.09.2025)








“The High Military Court declares Joseph Kabila, former head of state of the DRC, guilty of treason… and sentences him to the death penalty. The Kinshasa regime thus sets a historic precedent. EFIDH condemns any sentence aimed at taking a life, regardless of its source” (École de Formation Internationale en Droits Humains, 01.10.2025).
“The death sentence against President Joseph Kabila under the pretext of his alleged link with the AFC/M23 is a violation of the Declaration of Principles just as much as the persistence of the armed offensives by the Kinshasa regime. The AFC/M23 has never been mistaken about the man opposite and his game” (Bertrand Bisimwa, 01.10.2025).
“Kikaya Bin Karubi on the condemnation of Joseph Kabila: “More than three hours to present nothing but gossip from social media and the streets of Kinshasa. No evidence unequivocally linking Joseph Kabila Kabange to the AFC-M23 coalition. The only grievance is that he stayed in Goma and Bukavu, where tens of millions of our compatriots live, enduring the horrors of war in their flesh. Instead of relentlessly targeting Joseph Kabila Kabange, the Republic should applaud him for having reclaimed our Congo, which, in 2001 when he came to power, was already fragmented into several pieces. Moreover, not only did he reunify the country, he rebuilt the state’s framework to organize three electoral cycles that culminated in a peaceful transition of power. Joseph Kabila Kabange is being condemned to death for allegedly being the leader of the AFC-M23, while at the same time, negotiations are being held with the same AFC-M23 in Doha. The world is watching us. The future depends solely on us”” (InfosPlus RDC, 30.09.2025).
Yesterday, the High Military Court sentenced former President Joseph Kabila to death. In addition other punitive actions too. That is being done without any sort of mechanism to ensure the payments or extraction of these funds.
What happened yesterday is political theatre and a way of consolidating power. This is Felix Tshisekedi and his allies tarnishing the former President. In this manner, they are vilifying and targeting the allies of Kabila. They are criminalizing and penalizing dissent.
That Kabila risked himself and his legacy by returning to the Democratic Republic of Congo was clear from the announcing return. We knew he would risk everything by doing this. Tshisekedi wouldn’t be in office if it wasn’t for Kabila allowing him to enter. The FCC-CACH agreement gave him way and Tshisekedi has peeled the onion, one by one and consolidated power. This is the next level of doing so. We have seen this with others and he has targeted them too. Like he went after Vital Kamerhe and now it’s Kabila.
This is a symbolic action and a way of ensuring the possibility of deeming any allies of Kabila as treasonous. When you see how flimsy the Military Court did this and how easily people can question the validity or the evidence in the case. That’s when the Court and the State Prosecution has set a damning precedence, of which it can target and criminalize their detractors.
Yes, Kabila should stand tall of the ills and the damages he caused in the 18 years in office. He should answer for his sins in office. That’s all natural, but this isn’t that. The State Prosecution and the ones who made this show knows it. They did it to signal what’s to come and what they are willing to do.
There was rumours and speculation of entanglement or connections between M23/AFC and Kabila. However, those have been flimsy and never been proven. Neither has this case provided the evidence of that. They just pushed the case through and came to a verdict. This wasn’t sincere and they just want to silence someone who made way for the current ruler.
The way that this Court was used against Kabila. The next President can use the actions of Wazalendo/VDP and charge Felix Thisekedi. I don’t think the President or his allies has thought of that, but that is the brutal truth.
This here is a spectacle and there is no way Kabila will die in the hands of officers. Unless, he does something foolish and is captured out of pocket. That’s the only way… Peace.










“Temporary capital of South Kivu, Uvira was the scene of an outburst of anger led by the wazalendo. If the arrival of a government delegation helped to ease the tension, the episode highlighted the growing influence of these militias, which are as essential as they are unpredictable supporters of the Congolese army against the M23. (Jeune Africa)” (News.CD, 29.09.2025).
Earlier in the year as the M23/AFC was advancing and the tide was looking bad for the FARDC/Wazalendo brigades, as the M23/AFC was able to tactically and technically savvy who was skilled in conquering territories. That is now continuing he fierce battle between government forces and the proxy militias are persisting.
The continued warfare and skirmishes in the Kivu Provinces aren’t over. They are causing enough headlines or concerns, but they should. The usage of force and extra judicial killings continues. The state is weak and the national army needs stable allies. The FARDC cannot handle this pressure and the ability of M23/AFC on it’s own. That’s why they need the support and the trust of the Wazalendo/VDP.
That’s a loss of the state that it needs this militia and outfit to combat M23. These Patriotic Defenders needs help and support too. The state needs to build trust and coordinate properly with them. The state doesn’t need tension and distrust with the ones who is fighting their battle for them. The FARDC is the failure here and they should be ashamed that they need a militia to do their job. That’s the gist here…
The Congolese Army needs to recalibrate and has to act swiftly, it has already lost to much territories to the M23/AFC and cannot afford to lose more. They need restructure and have a stable communication with Wazalendo/VDP. That is vital for them and it becomes more important, as the M23 will use any moment of weakness to it’s advantage. They will target and annex more territory. That’s what it does and it earns more profit of the loot. M23 runs like that and the state should be aware of that by now.
This game isn’t better, but more complicated and the President, the state and the Congolese Army should know their duty. The Congolese state and authorities has a task and they should know it well. This isn’t something new and insurgency has been rampant, but M23 have made a fool out of them. That’s why FARDC and Wazalendo/VDP has to act and do it with coordination. Certainly, the M23 is seeing and watching everything.
They are awaiting their moment to strike and when they have the word, they will hit hard and they will annihilate anyone in their way. So, FARDC and Wazalendo/VDP has to do the right thing, but I wouldn’t count on it. Peace.
