Joseph Kabila, the former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, announced on Thursday that he gonna head over to Goma, the capital of North-Kivu province, in the coming days. He also criticized the current government’s response to his announcement. Kabila stated, “Just a few days ago, because of some gossip from the streets or social media about me being in Goma, where I am actually planning to go soon, the regime in Kinshasa made some hasty decisions with a shocking lack of consideration.”
The ex-president accused the government of neglecting the people in the East and punishing them by cutting off local financial institutions from the national banking system and restricting the movement of people and goods. He continued, “These decisions and many others are suffocating you and making your life even more precarious than before.” Kabila called for an improvement in living conditions in that region and urged the authorities to prioritize the protection of the population. He emphasized the importance of the army, judiciary, and security forces serving the people and meeting their needs.
As Kabila spoke publicly for the first time since leaving office, he broke his long silence. He expressed his concerns about the situation in the East and the actions taken by the current government. The former president’s visit to Goma is seen as a significant event, given the political tensions in the region. Not really sure why this matters, but it seems like Kabila is trying to make a statement and show his support for the people of North-Kivu. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like his presence there could have some political implications. It will be interesting to see how the government responds to his visit and if any changes will result from his remarks.
