Opposition leader jose makila attributes m23 resurgence in drc to president tshisekedi

During a recent live Space discussion, veteran opposition figure and former Deputy Prime Minister, José Makila Sumanda, offered sharp critiques concerning the security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Makila notably challenged prevailing assumptions about the M23 rebel movement and its historical connections to former President Joseph Kabila, redirecting accountability toward the current administration.

Makila staunchly refuted claims of any complicity between ex-President Joseph Kabila and the M23 rebels, specifically addressing Kabila’s presence in M23-controlled regions. He asserted that no M23 members ever provided protection for Kabila, underscoring that all inhabitants of North and South Kivu living under M23 governance are subject to the same local security protocols. Makila contended that during his tenure, Kabila was committed to “defending the integrity of the territory” and maintained no personal disputes with M23 leaders such as Makenga or Nanga. He questioned the basis for condemning Kabila now, given that he no longer holds direct responsibility for national defense.

In a significant shift of focus within African politics, the seasoned politician directly attributed the M23’s re-emergence in the Congolese national arena to President Félix Tshisekedi. “It is not Kabila who brought the M23 back to Kinshasa; it is Tshisekedi,” Makila declared. He suggested that it was the incumbent head of state who facilitated the normalization of relations with the movement, thereby rendering any accusations against his predecessor inconsistent and unfounded, particularly when examining governance Africa.

Makila also drew a crucial distinction regarding the nature of the conflict: separating a formally declared interstate war from a rebellion receiving external backing. He rejected parallels to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, affirming that, to his knowledge, the DRC is not engaged in a formal war with Rwanda. He posed a pointed question: “We possess Sukhoï jets and drones. Why are these drones and Sukhoï not deployed to bombard Rwanda?” This absence of direct military action on Rwandan territory, he argued, indicates that the situation does not constitute a conflict between sovereign states.

While refraining from military analysis, Makila emphasized his commitment to a purely political interpretation of these complex developments. “I am one hundred percent political. I convey to you what I understand from a political perspective,” he concluded, choosing not to delve into areas he deemed outside his expertise, thereby contributing to the essential discourse of independent African journalism on critical security issues.