Former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila, has blamed President Félix Tshisekedi for the worsening crisis in the country, arguing that poor governance and political mismanagement have contributed significantly to the ongoing conflict in the east.

In a strongly worded opinion piece published in South Africa’s Sunday Times, Kabila claimed that the current administration’s failure to uphold a long-standing political pact had fueled instability. He accused Tshisekedi of undermining the foundations of democracy established through past agreements and warned that the country was teetering on the edge of collapse.

Political Disregard and Governance Concerns

Kabila, who led the country from 2001 to 2019, said the transfer of power following the 2018 elections had been based on an understanding that Tshisekedi’s administration would respect certain political and constitutional principles. However, he claimed that these commitments were quickly abandoned, leading to increasing authoritarianism, economic instability, and heightened conflict.

“The world celebrated a peaceful transition, but it was short-lived. The political accord that paved the way for stability has been systematically dismantled,” Kabila stated.

He pointed to alleged human rights violations, suppression of political opponents, and economic mismanagement as key issues plaguing the country.

He further accused Tshisekedi of manipulating institutions to consolidate power, including orchestrating elections.