Kinshasa security debate: José Makila blames Tshisekedi for M23 resurgence
- Security
In a live Space interview with journalist Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala, opposition leader and former Vice Prime Minister José Makila Sumanda delivered sharp critiques of the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the role of former President Joseph Kabila in the crisis.
M23’s presence not linked to Kabila, Makila asserts
Addressing claims of collaboration between former President Joseph Kabila and the M23 rebel group, Makila dismissed accusations outright. « No one from M23 ever provided protection to Kabila, » he declared, emphasizing that all civilians in North and South Kivu under M23 control are governed by the same security forces as before. He contended that Kabila’s actions during his presidency were solely aimed at « defending the nation’s territorial integrity » without personal animosity toward rebel leaders like Makenga or Nanga. « Now that he no longer holds office, how can you hold him accountable? » he challenged.
Tshisekedi’s policies blamed for M23’s return
Makila turned the tables on President Félix Tshisekedi, attributing the M23’s resurgence in Kinshasa to his administration’s policies. « It wasn’t Kabila who brought M23 back to Kinshasa—it’s Tshisekedi, » he stated, arguing that the current president’s normalization of relations with the group made any criticism of his predecessor illogical. He stressed that Tshisekedi’s actions had inadvertently legitimized the rebels’ presence, contradicting his own government’s security narratives.
Distinguishing internal rebellion from interstate war
Makila drew a clear line between an internal rebellion and an interstate conflict, rejecting comparisons to the Russia-Ukraine war. « We possess Sukhoi jets and drones—why aren’t these being used to strike Rwanda directly? » he questioned, pointing to the absence of cross-border military strikes as evidence that Kinshasa is not formally at war with Kigali. This distinction, he argued, underscored the complexity of the conflict’s origins and the need for a political—not just military—response.
A political lens on a military crisis
While cautious about military solutions, Makila framed the crisis as fundamentally political. « I am 100% political in my analysis, » he concluded, refusing to engage in debates outside his expertise. His remarks highlighted the deepening political divides in DR Congo’s approach to the eastern rebellion, as public frustration grows over the government’s handling of the security file.
