DRC: Joseph Kabila and Moise Katumbi Criticize President Félix Tshisekedi in Joint Statement

Former DRC leaders Joseph Kabila and Moise Katumbi unite in a rare joint statement to criticize the governance of President Félix Tshisekedi, raising political tensions.

Joseph Kabila and Moise Katumbi appear to be forging an alliance, as both Congolese politicians have joined forces in critiquing the current president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi.

As reported by their teams, the two men met in Ethiopia shortly before Christmas.

Recently, they released a joint statement emphasizing their common goals.

The statement expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the DRC, highlighting that M23 rebels have seized large areas of land in the east and condemning the “presence of illegal armed forces.”

It urged political groups to come together in opposition to what it termed a “dictatorship.”

Kinshasa has accused both men of collaborating with Rwanda, which the UN alleges is supporting M23 rebels involved in an offensive in the DRC.

The most recent occasion the two men were seen together was at a forum in the DRC in 2022, where they shook hands despite being former rivals.