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Jean-Pierre Bemba speaks to the press after submitting his candidacy for the 2018 presidential election in Kinshasa, following his return from 10 years in ICC detention. (Photo: Junior D. KANNAH / AFP)

Bemba accuses ex-President Kabila of infiltrating Congo’s army with Rwandan rebels through CNDP and M23. Tensions flare as Goma faces renewed threats.

2025-06-10

Kinshasa, DRC – In a fiery interview aired on Monday on Top Congo FM, Jean-Pierre Bemba openly accused former President Joseph Kabila of betraying the Congolese people by allegedly helping foreign fighters infiltrate the army through rebel groups like the CNDP and M23.

“Joseph Kabila is an impostor whose role in the DRC was, in particular, to infiltrate the army in order to disintegrate it,” said Bemba, the current Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Transport. “The attacks by the CNDP and the M23 were only intended to allow the integration of Rwandans as soldiers in the FARDC.”

Journalist Odon Bakumba first reported this bold claim for BETO.cd as political tensions continue to rise in Goma, a city now facing fresh threats from M23 rebels widely believed to be backed by Rwanda.

CNDP: Trojan Horse for Rwandan Influence?

The CNDP (National Congress for the Defense of the People), created in 2006 by ex-army officer Laurent Nkunda, claimed to protect Congolese Tutsis. But according to human rights watchdogs and regional observers, it quickly became a proxy force for Rwandan interests in the east.

In 2009, Kabila's government signed a peace deal that legalized CNDP as a political party and absorbed many of its fighters into the Congolese national army (FARDC). That move, once celebrated as a peace initiative, is now being called a dangerous gamble that allowed foreign influence to grow inside Congo’s military structure.

A Costly Allegiance?

Bemba didn’t stop at political accusations. He revealed an alarming figure:

“These murky alliances have allowed the Rwandan war effort to be financed to the tune of $66 million per month for 18 years.”

If true, this suggests billions of Congolese funds may have indirectly supported foreign-backed militias that continue to destabilize the region today.

Kabila’s Presence in Goma Sparks Fear

The former president’s recent reappearance in Goma, where M23 activity is flaring up again, has raised suspicions among locals and political leaders alike. Bemba’s comments suggest the ghost of Kabila-era collusion still lingers, and may be reawakening in the shadows of renewed conflict.

These networks of collusion never truly disappeared,” Bemba warned.

What’s Next?

With Bemba's explosive allegations now public, the pressure is mounting on Congo’s political establishment to fully investigate past alliances between Kinshasa and rebel militias. Kabila has yet to respond.