Former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila has accused his successor Félix Tshisekedi of undermining peace efforts by failing to honour commitments under the Doha peace process and rejecting inclusive political dialogue. In a national address on Friday, October 9, Kabila said Tshisekedi's pursuit of war is deepening the country’s security crisis. ALSO READ: Erik Prince in talks with Kinshasa on $65m military logistics deal: reports Kabila said the government had shown little willingness to advance negotiations with the AFC/M23 movement while continuing military operations that undermine efforts to end the conflict. “The incumbent leadership has made the politically self-serving choice to pursue a war it seemingly has neither the will nor the means to win,” he said, citing the failure to honour a ceasefire agreed in Doha in October 2025. “Examples include the failure to honor the ceasefire signed in Doha, continued collaboration with the Mai-Mai, now rebranded as Wazalendo, the FDLR, and various other foreign armed groups, the ongoing supply of arms and ammunition to its proxy forces; persistent shelling of defenseless civilians, and a categorical refusal to engage in any truly inclusive national dialogue.” ALSO READ: FDLR continues killings, forced disappearances in eastern DR Congo, UN says The Doha peace process, launched in April 2025 under Qatar’s facilitation, seeks to resolve the conflict in eastern DR Congo by addressing the root causes of the fighting between the government and AFC/M23. The parties have agreed on protocols covering issues including a ceasefire, prisoner exchanges and humanitarian matters, intended to build trust before a peace agreement can be reached. However, implementation has remained limited, with the AFC/M23 movement accusing Kinshasa of failing to honour its commitments and escalating hostilities. ALSO READ: DR Congo crisis: Bisimwa criticises mediators for ‘babysitting’ Kinshasa Kabila said the failure to honour agreements extended beyond Doha, arguing that successive regional and international initiatives had been met with rejection by Tshisekedi’s administration. “Whether the initiatives came from the East African Community (EAC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the African Union, or friendly nations, none found favour in its eyes,” he said. ALSO READ: Nangaa warns of worsening humanitarian situation in Minembwe He also cited proposed national dialogue on peace and social cohesion by the Congolese episcopal conferences, CENCO and ECC, saying the initiative had failed despite the broad support among Congolese political and social forces. “For this leadership, dialogue is not an option. Faced with the crisis, it seeks not a solution, but the submission, without discussion or condition, of all those who do not share its ideas and methods,” Kabila said. ALSO READ: Rwanda demands accountability for DR Congo failure to neutralise FDLR His latest remarks revisit warnings he made in an address on May 23, 2025, when he said the country’s national cohesion, security and democratic institutions were under threat. At the time, he proposed a 12-point plan that included ending the war, restoring state authority and the rule of law, reconciling Congolese communities, neutralising armed groups and withdrawing foreign troops. Nearly a year and a half later, Kabila said those warnings had gone unheeded and that the situation had deteriorated, with no credible prospect of improvement. ALSO READ: 315 killed in Kinshasa attacks on Minembwe in five months - report Beyond the conflict in the east, the former president accused Tshisekedi’s administration of concentrating power, weakening democratic institutions and using state resources for political ends. He noted that human rights violations and restrictions on civil liberties had intensified, citing the detention of military officers, opposition figures, activists, journalists and ordinary citizens. He also accused the authorities of failing to ensure accountability for killings and massacres, while corruption and the embezzlement of public funds remained widespread. ALSO READ: Bisimwa condemns ‘indifference’ of mediators amid Kinshasa’s attacks Kabila further criticised proposals to amend the Constitution, arguing that Tshisekedi's government prioritised its political survival over resolving the country’s crises. “He acts more like the leader of a clan than a head of state,” Kabila said of Tshisekedi. “He honours no agreements, keeps neither his word nor his promises, and upholds no commitments.” ALSO READ: Kabila: DR Congo should stop blame games and fix its problems Kabila, who handed power to Tshisekedi in January 2019, said the incumbent leader had failed to deliver tangible results and had lost legitimacy in the eyes of the Congolese people. He warned that the country’s future was at stake and called on Congolese citizens to take responsibility for its direction. “The Congo is in peril. Saving it is both an imperative and an urgent necessity,” he said. “Betrayed by the very person who swore to protect it and unable to rely on anyone but itself, the Congolese population, the primary victims of this tyranny and barbarism face a decisive moment in history.” “Faced with choices that are, to say the least, existential, the situation demands rigorous analysis, loyalty to the nation, strength of conviction, courage, and resolute commitment from everyone,” Kabila said.
