Speaking in an interview with Namibia's state broadcaster, the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation, Kabila explained that while he had been involved in various activities since leaving office in 2019, including academic pursuits, the deteriorating situation in the DRC now demands his full attention.
'We left office as part of the Constitution and have been involved in various activities, including academic pursuits, which we intend to continue. However, if the situation back home continues to deteriorate, then we must ensure that the DRC does not go down the drain,' Kabila stated.
'We are here to assist and do exactly what we believe must be done to prevent things from worseningâ€"which is, unfortunately, what is happening as we speak.'
Kabila, who was in Namibia for the funeral of founding President Sam Nujoma, confirmed that he had paused his studies at the University of Johannesburg two to three months ago in order to dedicate more time to addressing the crisis in his country.
At the same time, he dismissed claims that he was 'emerging from the shadows,' insisting that he had never withdrawn from public life.
'Those reports are wrong. I've never been in the shadowsâ€"I've always been in the light. I was simply focusing on something else, and I always prefer to give my full attention to what I am doing to succeed. You can multitask, but when dealing with serious issues, multitasking is not an option,' he said.
Kabila emphasized that resolving the crisis in the DRC requires collective effort and cannot be achieved by a single individual.
'The Congo is a nation of 120 million people. It has neighboursâ€"not just those immediately surrounding it, but also from across the southern African region, such as Namibia and South Africa. I believe every Congolese citizen has a role to play, whether individually or collectively,' he said.
Kabila also reflected on past peace efforts, including the 2001-2002 Lusaka Agreement and subsequent accords that led to temporary stability. He acknowledged that governance challenges, injustices, and constitutional violations have fueled ongoing instability.
While expressing concern over foreign military presence in the DRC, he recalled a similar decision in 2001 to expel foreign troops, arguing that national sovereignty should be respected.
'The country must be sovereign within its borders, making sovereign decisions, without multiple foreign armies battling it outâ€"including mercenaries and hundreds of armed groups,' he said.
Kabila also commented on ongoing mediation efforts, urging mediators to engage directly with the Congolese people to ensure effective conflict resolution. He maintained that peace in the DRC must be built on democratic governance, stability, and national cohesion.
His remarks follow his recent criticism of President Félix Tshisekedi's administration, in which he accused the government of failing to address the country's worsening crisis, undermining democracy, and eroding constitutional order.
In a detailed opinion piece published in South Africa's Sunday Times in February, Kabila pointed to the escalating conflict in eastern DRC, particularly the resurgence of the M23 rebel group since 2021, as a symptom of deeper failures. He dismisses the government's narrative that the crisis hinges solely on M23 or tensions with Rwanda as 'misleading.'
IGIHE
