Drc: opposition figure josé makila attributes m23 resurgence to president tshisekedi

During a live Space event hosted by journalist Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala on Thursday, prominent opposition figure and former Deputy Prime Minister José Makila Sumanda offered definitive insights into the security crisis gripping the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. He also addressed the alleged involvement of former President Joseph Kabila in the ongoing conflict.

Addressing queries about Kabila’s presence in M23-held territories, Makila vehemently dismissed claims of collusion between the former head of state and the rebel faction. He asserted, «No M23 member provided protection for Kabila,» emphasizing that all residents in North Kivu and South Kivu under M23 control are subject to the same local security forces operating there.

Makila contended that during his presidency, Kabila was solely focused on «defending territorial integrity» and never harbored personal grievances with M23 commanders like Makenga or Nanga. He challenged critics, asking, «He no longer bears the responsibility for this defense. What exactly are you condemning him for now?»

The opposition figure further shifted blame, attributing the M23’s resurgence in the Congolese landscape directly to President Félix Tshisekedi. «It was not Kabila who brought the M23 back to Kinshasa; it was Tshisekedi,» he declared. Makila argued that the incumbent head of state had allegedly normalized ties with the movement, thereby making any accusations against his predecessor inconsistent.

Regarding the very nature of the conflict, Makila drew a crucial distinction: that between a declared inter-state war and an externally supported rebellion. He dismissed comparisons to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, stating that, to his knowledge, the DRC is not formally at war with Rwanda. «We possess Sukhoi aircraft, we possess drones. Why are these drones and Sukhois not bombing Rwanda?» he questioned, highlighting the lack of direct strikes on Rwandan territory as evidence that the situation is not an official inter-state confrontation.

While cautious about military aspects, Makila maintained that his interpretation of these developments was strictly political. «I am one hundred percent political. I tell you what I know in politics,» he concluded, declining to delve into areas he considered outside his expertise.