Former Congolese President Joseph Kabila on Friday, May 23, blasted President Felix Tshisekedi’s government’s populism, lies, and arrogance, “discrimination and stigmatisation of certain sections of our people, the institutionalisation of tribalism and nepotism,” hate speech and impunity, that has destroyed national cohesion as well as rendered the country fragile and vulnerable. Speaking from an undisclosed location, Kabila particularly rebuked his country's justice system, a day after the Senate in Kinshasa voted in favour of a resolution stripping him of immunity after the country’s military high court brought treason and war crimes charges against him. Kabila, a senator for life, is accused of supporting the AFC/M23 rebels who control swathes of territory in eastern DR Congo, including the capitals of North and South Kivu provinces. In April, the Congolese government “ordered” legal proceedings against the former President and ordered the seizure of all his movable and immovable assets. As for the justice system ... it has completely abdicated its responsibilities, allowing itself to be openly exploited for political ends, Kabila said in a speech on Friday evening, adding that his country’s justice system had become instrument of oppression by a dictatorship that is “desperately trying to survive against the current of history.” The parliament has become the “rubber stamp for the will of a single person,” he said. Among other things, he also reiterated his call for the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from the country’s territory. Kabila said Congo's sovereignty and territorial integrity were non-negotiable. As a soldier, I swore to defend my country to the supreme sacrifice ... I remain more faithful than ever to this oath, he said. Kabila as well took aim at Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi’s plan to revise the country's constitution, potentially removing term limits and paving the way for his pursuit of a third term.
