Dr. Débora Kayembe’s Open Letter to Tshisekedi on Kabila Trial

Kinshasa, 8 September 2025 – Dr. Débora Kayembe, a Congolese-born lawyer and activist based in the UK, has issued an open letter to President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, urging him to safeguard national unity as the historic trial of former president Joseph Kabila Kabange unfolds.

In her appeal, Dr. Kayembe warned that while the trial of Joseph Kabila is necessary to address past injustices, it must be conducted with impartiality and fairness to avoid divisions that could destabilize the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Key Messages from the Letter

• Justice with Responsibility

  Dr. Kayembe emphasized that justice should not be turned into vengeance. “Justice that divides is justice that wounds the Nation,” she wrote, calling for a process that balances truth, reconciliation, and peace.

  
  

• Her Personal Testimony

  She recalled fleeing Congo at age 29 due to persecution under Kabila’s rule and Paul Kagame’s influence, spending 16 years in exile in the UK. Despite these hardships, she rose to become the 54th Rector of the University of Edinburgh, the first Black person to hold the role.

  
  

• National and International Impact

  While recognizing the suffering caused during Kabila’s 18 years in power, she also pointed out that his peaceful transfer of power in 2019 strengthened Congo’s image globally. She urged Tshisekedi to ensure the trial does not damage that legacy of democratic transition.

  
  

• Call for Unity