Cold with Félix Tshisekedi, Joseph Kabila is now looking for support abroad. His goal: to destabilize the Congolese president who ended his coalition with his predecessor.
Difficult to go from the majority to the opposition. A situation with which Joseph Kabila, the former president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is not satisfied. After seeing his majority literally implode, the former head of state and now a senator for life withdrew to Katanga. At the origin of this withdrawal, a quarrel that lasts between Kabila and his successor, Félix Tshisekedi. Both had previously decided to form a coalition to give a strong presidential majority. In early December 2020, President Tshisekedi announced the end of this alliance with Joseph Kabila.
Between the two men, the rag is burning: the Republican Guard, which ex-President Joseph Kabila shared with Félix Tshisekedi, left the home of the first on the orders of the second. Joseph Kabila has only the police in front of his home to ensure his protection. A punishment for the former head of state after the announcement of the end of the coalition.
And while the President of the Republic is looking for a new majority, Kabila has decided to start an intense international lobbying campaign.
Alerting the international community to the Congolese crisis
It has been ten days since Joseph Kabila in fact left Katanga. A first since he is no longer president of the DRC. Head first to Abu Dhabi. JA magazine reveals that the senator was accompanied by his former diplomatic adviser, Kikaya Bin Karubi. Astonishing fact: the former president met " personalities from the defense and intelligence community ”, in addition to members of the royal family. Kabila then went to Tanzania, then to Zimbabwe to meet Emmerson Mnangagwa there.
But what is Kabila really looking for outside the borders of the DRC? The timing is a bit short to hope to influence the new Prime Minister, Sama Lukonde Kyenge, who is due to announce his government very soon. But Kabila still relies on his political strength to create a new majority and thus shake up his successor. To do this, he also lobbies the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
What to stir up tensions with Félix Tshisekedi. Kabila undoubtedly hopes to draw the attention of the international community to the political situation in the DRC. The current president is facing an unprecedented crisis. And Kabila knows he still has support abroad, especially in Zimbabwe and Tanzania. His trip to these two countries therefore owes nothing to chance. But if he returns to his home, Kabila will have to keep his eyes open: Felix Tshisekedi risks making him pay for his attempts at destabilization.