Responding to Joseph Kabila's October 9 address, the senior Congolese political figure accused the former president of leaving Kigali's influence inside state institutions and challenged his record on national sovereignty.
KINSHASA, October 12, 2026 — Jean-Pierre Bemba has sharply criticized former President Joseph Kabila following his October 9 speech, accusing him of serving Rwanda's interests and questioning his record on national unity, governance and the armed conflicts in eastern Congo.
In a French-language statement posted on X on October 10 and subsequently reported by Congolese media, Bemba rejected Kabila's attempt to challenge the current leadership. The president of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) framed his response around sovereignty, responsibility for past abuses and the government's efforts to protect the country's future.
“Your Speech Fools No One”
Bemba opened by addressing Kabila directly: “Your speech fools no one.” He accused the former president of returning to public debate as a critic of the authorities while overlooking the controversies of his own years in office.
Bemba disputed Kabila's electoral legitimacy, alleged irregularities in the 2006 and 2011 elections and described his tenure as marked by repression, killings, the loss of national wealth and impunity. Those assertions were made in Bemba's statement; they are not presented here as judicial findings.
The Allegation of Kigali's Influence
Bemba's principal criticism concerned Kabila's alleged relationship with Rwanda and the continuing influence he said Kigali retained in Congolese institutions.
“The Democratic Republic of the Congo needs neither an emissary from Kigali nor a puppet serving foreign interests,” Bemba said.
He alleged that Kabila left behind officials acting in Kigali's interests in senior state positions after leaving power. According to Bemba, that purported network hindered the country's independence and perpetuated foreign influence over Congolese political affairs.
JUSTICE & CRIME
Jean-Pierre Bemba Accuses Joseph Kabila of Serving Rwanda's Interests
Oct 12, 2026
Oct 12, 2026
5 min read
Published
Updated:
Responding to Joseph Kabila's October 9 address, the senior Congolese political figure accused the former president of leaving Kigali's influence inside state institutions and challenged his record on national sovereignty.
KINSHASA, October 12, 2026 — Jean-Pierre Bemba has sharply criticized former President Joseph Kabila following his October 9 speech, accusing him of serving Rwanda's interests and questioning his record on national unity, governance and the armed conflicts in eastern Congo.
In a French-language statement posted on X on October 10 and subsequently reported by Congolese media, Bemba rejected Kabila's attempt to challenge the current leadership. The president of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) framed his response around sovereignty, responsibility for past abuses and the government's efforts to protect the country's future.
“Your Speech Fools No One”
Bemba opened by addressing Kabila directly: “Your speech fools no one.” He accused the former president of returning to public debate as a critic of the authorities while overlooking the controversies of his own years in office.
Bemba disputed Kabila's electoral legitimacy, alleged irregularities in the 2006 and 2011 elections and described his tenure as marked by repression, killings, the loss of national wealth and impunity. Those assertions were made in Bemba's statement; they are not presented here as judicial findings.
The Allegation of Kigali's Influence
Bemba's principal criticism concerned Kabila's alleged relationship with Rwanda and the continuing influence he said Kigali retained in Congolese institutions.
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“The Democratic Republic of the Congo needs neither an emissary from Kigali nor a puppet serving foreign interests,” Bemba said.
He alleged that Kabila left behind officials acting in Kigali's interests in senior state positions after leaving power. According to Bemba, that purported network hindered the country's independence and perpetuated foreign influence over Congolese political affairs.
The statement did not name the alleged agents or supply supporting documents. No independent proof that Kabila acted under instructions from Rwanda was established in the material reviewed.
M23, AFDL and Responsibility for Conflict
Bemba also accused Kabila of supporting and financing M23 and the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL). He argued that the former president had failed to condemn armed actors that threatened Congo's security.
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These are serious accusations, particularly amid the continuing dispute over Rwanda's role in eastern DRC. Bemba's statement did not include financial records or other verifiable documentation demonstrating that Kabila funded M23.
His remarks nevertheless placed accountability for armed conflict at the center of the political exchange that followed Kabila's speech.
National Unity and Congo's Diversity
In another section of his post, Bemba accused Kabila of exploiting ethnic divisions. He emphasized that the country's communities, languages and traditions form part of a shared Congolese identity and argued that this diversity must be protected.
The wider message was that sovereignty is inseparable from national unity: Congo's future, Bemba maintained, belongs to its citizens rather than foreign political interests.
Bemba Points to Tshisekedi Government Initiatives
Bemba contrasted the former administration with the record of President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, highlighting free primary education, maternity care measures, public spending and investments in universities, roads, airports, ports and transport networks.
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These were achievements Bemba credited to the current leadership. His X statement did not provide independent assessments of the scale, completion or impact of each initiative.
“Congo Will Never Be a Province of Rwanda”
Bemba closed his argument with a declaration of territorial sovereignty: “Congo will never be a province of Rwanda.”
He added that national sovereignty must not be negotiated away and that the DRC's political future must not be decided in Kigali or another foreign capital.
Bemba also commemorated Congolese figures who died during Kabila's presidency, including Floribert Chebeya, Armand Tungulu, Luc Nkulula, Thérèse Déchade Kapangala and Rossy Mukendi, invoking their memory in his appeal for justice and accountability.
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