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103-752: The RCD, operating in the east of the DRC, was a major factor in launching the Second Congo War (1998–2003), a rebellion against the government of Laurent-Désiré Kabila . At first the RCD was led by Professor Ernest Wamba dia Wamba . A split developed in the RCD between November 1998 and May 1999 as it became clear that some Rwanda-backed members based in Goma simply wanted to remove Kabila, rather than to introduce democracy. Several attempts were made on Wamba dia Wamba's life, and in May 1999 he

206-612: A Lebanese diamond dealer allegedly organised the logistics of the organisation. Others have speculated that the Angolans (due to Kabila's complicity in helping the Angolan rebel group UNITA channel funds through the DRC) or even the Americans were involved in the assassination. There is, as yet, no proof that Mizele or the kadogos were acting under orders from an external source. By unanimous vote of

309-727: A Tanzanian in his school years to avoid detection by Zairean intelligence agents. Following high school, Kabila followed a military curriculum in Tanzania , then at Makerere University in Uganda. In October 1996, Laurent-Désiré Kabila launched the campaign in Zaire to oust the Mobutu regime with his newly formed army, the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL). Joseph Kabila became

412-567: A certain number of recruits, and reportedly recruited children by force. The civil war officially ended with a power-sharing agreement between the government and rebel movements. RCD-Goma Chairman Adolphe Onusumba Yemba signed a peace pact in Sun City, South Africa, on 2 April 2003. Later that month the RCD/Goma launched a military offensive against the RCD-K/ML positions, occupying more than two thirds of

515-460: A copy of internal RCD-Goma correspondence that had been leaked to the media. The correspondence said President Joseph Kabila was continuing to support the Interahamwe , a group of Rwandan Hutu militias who fled to Congo after having played a major role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide . On 10 and 11 October 2004, hundreds of mostly young students from primary and secondary schools took to the streets of

618-669: A government offensive in Equateur Province along the Ubangi River was repulsed near Libenge by MLC forces. Military operations and diplomatic efforts made by the UN, African Union and Southern African Development Community failed to make any headway. On 16 January 2001, Laurent-Désiré Kabila was shot and killed at the Palais de Marbre in Kinshasa. The government initially stated that Kabila

721-543: A message urging resistance from a radio station in Bunia in eastern Congo: "People must bring a machete, a spear, an arrow, a hoe, spades, rakes, nails, truncheons, electric irons, barbed wire, stones, and the like, in order, dear listeners, to kill the Rwandan Tutsis." The Rwandan government also challenged current borders by claiming a substantial part of eastern Congo as "historically Rwandan". The Rwandans alleged that Kabila

824-476: A national census could be conducted (elections had been planned for 2016 ). By Wednesday 21 January clashes between police and protesters had claimed at least 42 lives, although the government claimed only 15 people had been killed. The Senate responded to protests by striking the census requirement from its law. Moïse Katumbi announced in October 2015 that he would leave the ruling party due to disagreements over

927-454: A partial referendum approved a new constitution, and a presidential election was held on 30 July 2006, having been delayed from an earlier date in June. The new constitution lowered the minimum age of presidential candidates from 35 to 30; Kabila turned 35 shortly before the election. In March 2006, he registered as a candidate. Although Kabila registered as an independent, he is the "initiator" of

1030-553: A plan for transitional governance that would have result in legislative and presidential election within two years of its signing and marked the formal end of the Second Congo War. At the end of 2002 through January 2003, around 60,000 Pygmy civilians and 10,000 combatants were killed in an extermination campaign known as " Effacer le tableau " by the Movement for the Liberation of Congo . Human rights activists have made demands for

1133-493: A warning to President Kabila to respect his country's constitution. More demonstrations were planned to mark the passing of the end of the presidential mandate. Opposition groups claim that the outcome of late elections would be civil war. Maman Sidikou, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for DR Congo and head of MONUSCO , said that a tipping point into uncontrollable violence could come about very quickly if

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1236-478: Is relatively well-established, there have been some attempts to argue that they were under the influence of external actors who sought to overthrow Kabila. Some Congolese officials attempted to implicate their principal enemies by alleging that the Rwandans masterminded the operation. Some observers have lent credibility to these allegations, including Al-Jazeera 's documentary, " Murder in Kinshasa ", which alleges that

1339-585: The Lubero Territory . The advance was halted after signature of an agreement in Bujumbura on 19 June 2003. Following the cease-fire, the RCD-Goma continued to undertake offensives, drawing international condemnation for violating the cease-fire and threatening the political process. Under the terms of the ceasefire the RCD/Goma had to withdraw to their former territory. However Armée Nationale Congolaise (ANC) troops,

1442-664: The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Congo , should the office of the president become vacant, the Chairman of the Senate , presently Léon Kengo would assume the presidency in an acting capacity. On 23 December, an agreement was proposed between the main opposition group and the Kabila government under which the latter agreed not to alter the constitution and to leave office before

1545-635: The Great Lakes region of Africa. Kabila himself had credibility as a long-time political opponent of Mobutu, and had been a follower of Patrice Lumumba (the first prime minister of the independent Congo), who was executed by a combination of internal and external forces in January 1961, and was ultimately replaced by Mobutu in 1965. Kabila had declared himself a Marxist and an admirer of Mao Zedong . He had been waging armed rebellion in eastern Zaire for more than three decades, though Che Guevara in his account of

1648-674: The Great War of Africa , was a major conflict that began on 2 August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), just over a year after the First Congo War . The war initially erupted when Congolese president Laurent-Désiré Kabila turned against his former allies from Rwanda and Uganda , who had helped him seize power. Eventually, the conflict expanded, drawing in nine African nations and approximately 25 armed groups, making it one of

1751-498: The International Crisis Group has reported, these have gradually been reduced. A high level of official corruption siphoning money away from civil servants, soldiers and infrastructure projects causes further instability. On 30 July 2006 the first elections were held in the DRC after the populace approved a new constitution. A second round was held on 30 October. Robert Mugabe 's administration dispatched elements of

1854-440: The International Crisis Group , the fighting was a result of differences over the objectives and strategies used during the war. In November government-controlled television in Kinshasa claimed that Kabila's army had been rebuilt and was now prepared to fulfil its "mission to liberate" the country. Rwandan-supported rebel forces launched a major offensive and approached Kinshasa but were eventually repelled. By 24 February 2000,

1957-493: The July 2006 general elections , coming sixth with only 1.7% of the vote. The RCD won 15 seats in the new 500-seat Assembly. In the 19 January 2007 Senate elections , the party won seven out of 108 seats. Second Congo War Military stalemate Mai Mai: 20,000–30,000 militia RCD-Goma: 40,000 MLC: 20,000 RCD-ML: 8,000 Other major events The Second Congo War , also known as Africa's World War or

2060-507: The Kivus . The Tutsi-led Rwandan government allied with Uganda, and Burundi also retaliated, occupying a portion of northeastern Congo. To help remove the occupying Rwandans, President Kabila enlisted the aid of refugee Hutu in eastern Congo and began to agitate public opinion against the Tutsi, resulting in several public lynchings in the streets of Kinshasa. On 12 August a loyalist army major broadcast

2163-553: The Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement was signed by the six warring countries (Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Uganda) and, on 1 August, the MLC (the RCD refused to sign until 31 August). Under the terms of the agreement, forces from all sides, under a Joint Military Commission, would co-operate in tracking, disarming and documenting all armed groups in the Congo, especially those forces identified with

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2266-510: The Nyunzu area that have killed hundreds of people. According to the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo , President Kabila should not be allowed to serve more than two terms. On 19 September 2016, massive protests rocked Kinshasa calling for him to step down as legally mandated. Seventeen people were killed. Elections to determine a successor to Kabila were originally scheduled to be held on 27 November 2016. On 29 September 2016,

2369-566: The People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), which chose him as their candidate in the election. Although the new constitution stipulates that a debate be held between the two remaining candidates for the presidency, no debates took place and many declared this unconstitutional. According to widely disputed provisional results announced on 20 August, Kabila won 45% of the vote; his main opponent, vice-president and former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba , won 20%. The irregularities surrounding

2472-399: The Second Congo War , maintained Joseph Kabila as President and head of state of the Congo. An interim administration was set up under him, including the leaders of the country's two main rebel groups as vice-presidents (two other vice-presidents were representatives of the civilian opposition and government supporters respectively). On 28 March 2004, an apparent coup attempt or mutiny around

2575-596: The Southern African Development Community (SADC). While officially the SADC members are bound to a mutual defence treaty in the case of outside aggression, many member nations took a neutral stance to the conflict. However, the governments of Namibia , Zimbabwe and Angola supported the Kabila government after a meeting in Harare , Zimbabwe, on 19 August. Several more nations joined the conflict for Kabila in

2678-558: The Tutsi -dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide of 1994. The Tutsi -dominated RPF government of Rwanda, which had gained power in July 1994, protested this violation of Rwandan territorial integrity, and began to arm the ethnically Tutsi Banyamulenge of eastern Zaire. The Mobutu regime of Zaire vigorously denounced this intervention, but possessed neither

2781-609: The Uganda People's Defense Force and the Rwandan Patriotic Army clashed in Kisangani on the morning of 7 August. Fighting broke out again between the two armies on the evening of 14 August; fighting occurred throughout much of Kisangani, including in the airport and on major roads. The conflict lasted until 17 August, when a ceasefire was called that day. Both sides used heavy weapons during these clashes. As reported by

2884-472: The Zimbabwe National Army to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1998. Mugabe, perhaps the most ardent supporter of intervention on Kabila's behalf, was the only major player involved in the conflict able to marshal a reasonably modern and experienced air force. Zimbabwe's military was also regarded as being one of the more well-equipped and professional of the region; being the decisive factor in

2987-621: The nation's electoral authority announced that the election would not be held until early 2018. According to the electoral commission's vice president, the commission "hasn't called elections in 2016 because the number of voters isn't known." However, the opposition alleges that Kabila had intentionally delayed the election to remain in power. Partially in response to the delayed election, the United States issued sanctions against two members of Kabila's inner circle, John Numbi and Gabriel Amisi Kumba , on 28 September. These actions were seen as

3090-537: The 1970s. Aged 29, he was considered young and inexperienced. He subsequently attempted to end the ongoing civil war by negotiating peace agreements with rebel groups backed by Rwanda and Uganda, the same regional armies who had brought Laurent-Désiré Kabila's rebel group to power three years before. The 2002 peace agreement signed at the Inter-Congolese Dialogue in Sun City, South Africa , which nominally ended

3193-488: The 1994 Rwandan genocide. Few provisions, however, were made to actually disarm the militias. The United Nations Security Council deployed about 90 liaison personnel in August 1999 to support the ceasefire . However, in the following months all sides accused the others of repeatedly breaking the cease-fire, and it became clear that small incidents could trigger attacks. Tensions between Uganda and Rwanda escalated as units of

Rally for Congolese Democracy–Goma - Misplaced Pages Continue

3296-638: The AFDL's victory, and Laurent-Désiré Kabila's rise to the presidency, Joseph Kabila went on to get further training at the PLA National Defense University , in Beijing, China. When he returned from China, Kabila was awarded the rank of major-general, and appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo , in 1998. He was later, in 2000, appointed Chief of Staff of

3399-532: The Banyamulenge in Goma erupted into rebellion. Rwanda offered them immediate assistance, and early in August a well-armed rebel group, the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD)—composed primarily of Banyamulenge and backed by Rwanda and Uganda—emerged. This group quickly came to dominate the resource-rich eastern provinces, and based its operations in Goma. The RCD quickly took control of the towns of Bukavu and Uvira in

3502-633: The Congo. The other was the rounding up of the ex-Rwandan soldiers and the dismantling of the Hutu militia known as Interahamwe , which took part in Rwanda's 1994 genocide and continues to operate out of eastern Congo. Rwanda had previously refused to withdraw until the Hutu militias were dealt with. Signed on 6 September, the Luanda Agreement formalised peace between Congo and Uganda. The treaty aimed to get Uganda to withdraw its troops from Bunia and to improve

3605-501: The Congolese parliament, his son, Joseph Kabila , was sworn in as president to replace him. That he won the election was largely due to Robert Mugabe's backing, and the fact that most parliamentarians had been handpicked by the elder Kabila. In February, the new president met Rwandan President Paul Kagame in the United States. Rwanda, Uganda , and the rebels agreed to a UN pullout plan. Uganda and Rwanda began pulling troops back from

3708-658: The Harare disengagement sub-plans. Recalling that Kisangani also had to be demilitarised , the resolution reminded all parties to comply with the Ceasefire Agreement and called on Rwanda to use its influence to ensure that the RDC implemented the current resolution. The RCD said it welcomed the resolution and pledged to hand over the towns to MONUC control. In May 2002, the RCD-Goma was harassing civilians and conducting extrajudicial executions in Kisangani. The RCD-Goma attempted to ban

3811-444: The Kinshasa government surrender. The rebels took Kasenga on 27 March 1997. The government denied the rebels' success, starting a long pattern of false statements from the defense minister on the progress and conduct of the war. Negotiations were proposed in late March, and on 2 April a new Prime Minister of Zaire , Étienne Tshisekedi —a longtime rival of Mobutu—was installed. Kabila, by this point in control of roughly one-quarter of

3914-459: The Land Forces, a position he held until the elder President Kabila's assassination in January 2001. As chief of staff, he was one of the main military leaders in charge of government troops during the time of the Second Congo War (1998–2003). Kabila rose to the presidency on 26 January 2001 after the assassination of Laurent-Désiré Kabila , becoming the world's first head of government born in

4017-670: The Liberation of Congo ( ADFLC ) had committed massacres, and that the advancing army had killed as many as 60,000 civilians, a claim the ADFLC strenuously denied. Roberto Garreton stated that his investigation in the town of Goma turned up allegations of disappearances, torture, and killings. He quoted Moïse Nyarugabo  [ fr ] , an aide to Mobutu, as saying that killings and disappearances should be expected in wartime. Kabila's forces, with support of Rwanda, launched an offensive in earlier October 1996 in South Kivu, and demanded that

4120-471: The RCD about the dominance of the Banyamulenge reached a boiling point when RCD leader Ernest Wamba dia Wamba moved his base from Goma to Uganda-controlled Kisangani to head a breakaway faction known as RCD-Kisangani, which later became The Forces for Renewal . A further sign of a break occurred when President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Kabila signed a ceasefire accord on 18 April in Sirte , Libya , following

4223-406: The RCD rebels for security reasons, apparently after a request by Nelson Mandela to advance peace talks. On 18 January 1999, Rwanda, Uganda, Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe agreed on a ceasefire at a summit at Windhoek , Namibia but the RCD was not invited. Fighting thus continued. Outside of Africa, most states remained neutral, but urged an end to the violence. On 5 April 1999, tensions within

Rally for Congolese Democracy–Goma - Misplaced Pages Continue

4326-776: The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and to expel several members of the United Nations peacekeeping force ( MONUC ) from areas under its control, drawing another condemnation from the UN Security Council . On 21 June 2002, child soldiers of the pro-government Mai Mai militia entered Pweto , and RDC officials hastily left. Later that month the Rwandan-backed RDC-Goma forces again took control of Pweto, threatening

4429-597: The UN authorised a force of 5,537 troops, the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (known by the French acronym , MONUC ), to monitor the cease-fire. However, fighting continued between rebels and government forces and between Rwandan and Ugandan forces. Numerous clashes and offensives occurred throughout the country, most notably heavy fighting between Uganda and Rwanda in Kisangani in May and June 2000. On 9 August 2000

4532-767: The Zimbabwean military withdrew from the DRC in October 2002, but in June 2006 reporters said a 50-man force had stayed in the DRC to protect Kabila. On 17 December 2002, the Congolese parties of the Inter Congolese Dialogue (the national government, the MLC, the RCD, the RCD-ML, the RCD-N, the domestic political opposition, representatives of civil society and the Mai Mai) signed the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement. The agreement described

4635-512: The [Lusaka] accord called for the government's democratic transition and that was a threat to his power." In April 2001, a UN panel of experts investigated the illegal exploitation of diamonds, cobalt , coltan , gold and other lucrative resources in the Congo. The report accused Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe of systematically exploiting Congolese resources and recommended the Security Council impose sanctions . In 2002, Rwanda's situation in

4738-479: The armed forces of the RCD-Goma, continued to occupy the city of Kanyabayonga along with local mostly Hutu militias created and directed by the North Kivu Governor Eugene Serufuli . In September 2003, the spokesman of the newly formed Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo , Vital Kamerhe, accused members of the RCD-Goma of fomenting a new rebellion. He based this on

4841-438: The army, which weakened the effectiveness of the agreement. There were several reported breaches of the Sun City agreement, but it has seen a reduction in the fighting. On 30 July 2002, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a peace deal known as the Pretoria Accord after five days of talks in Pretoria , South Africa. The talks centered on two issues. One was the withdrawal of the estimated 20,000 Rwandan soldiers in

4944-436: The authority of the government and retreated with some of the RCD-Goma troops to the Masisi forests in Nord Kivu . This was the start of the long-running Kivu conflict . A warrant for Nkunda's arrest on charges of war crimes was issued in September 2005. In January 2006, his forces attacked and occupied several towns in Rutshuru Territory in North Kivu province including Tongo , Bunagana and Rutshuru . The troops looted

5047-418: The capital Kinshasa , allegedly by members of the former guard of former president Mobutu Sese Seko (who had been ousted by Kabila's father in 1997 and died in the same year), failed. On 11 June 2004, coup plotters led by Major Eric Lenge allegedly attempted to take power and announced on state radio that the transitional government was suspended, but were defeated by loyalist troops. In December 2005,

5150-587: The capital rankled many Congolese, who began to see Kabila as a pawn of foreign powers. Tensions reached new heights on 14 July 1998, when Kabila dismissed his Rwandan chief of staff James Kabarebe , and replaced him with a native Congolese, Célestin Kifwa . Although the move chilled what was already a troubled relationship with Rwanda, Kabila softened the blow by making Kabarebe the military adviser to his successor. Two weeks later, Kabila chose to abandon his previous decision. He thanked Rwanda for its help, and ordered all Rwandan and Ugandan military forces to leave

5253-426: The city of Kanyabayonga to protest against the increase in crimes against civilians by RCD-Goma forces. ANC troops violently broke up the demonstration and instituted a reign of terror. Laurent Nkunda was an officer in the RCD-Goma. In 2003, with the official end of that war, Nkunda joined the new integrated national army of the transitional government as a colonel and was promoted to general in 2004. He soon rejected

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5356-464: The combined RCD, Rwandan and rebel soldiers overwhelmed government forces amid a flurry of ineffectual diplomatic efforts by various African nations. By 13 August, less than two weeks after the revolt had begun, rebels held the Inga hydroelectric station that provided power to Kinshasa as well as the port of Matadi through which most of Kinshasa's food passed. The diamond center of Kisangani fell into rebel hands on 23 August and forces advancing from

5459-431: The commander of an AFDL unit that included " kadogos " (child soldiers) and likely played a key role in major battles on the road to Kinshasa, but his exact whereabouts during the war have been difficult to establish. Joseph Kabila appears to have been present at the liberation of Kisangani where media reports identified him as commander of the rebel force that took the city after four days of intense fighting. Following

5562-447: The context of the Second Congo War . He was allowed to remain in power after the 2003 Pretoria Accord ended the war as the president of the country's new transitional government . He was elected as president in 2006 and re-elected in 2011 for a second term. Since stepping down after the 2018 election , Kabila, as a former president, serves as a senator for life . Kabila's term was due to expire on 20 December 2016, according to

5665-427: The country and a delay in the scheduled national elections from June 2005 to July 2006. The main cause for the continued weakness of the Transitional Government is the refusal by the former warring parties to give up power to a centralised and neutral national administration. Some belligerents maintained administrative and military command-and-control structures separate from that of the Transitional Government, but as

5768-601: The country and died in exile in Morocco four months later. Kabila proclaimed himself president on 17 May 1997; he immediately ordered a violent crackdown to restore order, and began an attempt at reorganisation of the nation. When Kabila gained control of the capital in May 1997, he faced substantial obstacles to governing the country, which he renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from Zaïre . Beyond political jostling among various groups to gain power and an enormous external debt, his foreign backers proved unwilling to leave when asked. The conspicuous Rwandan presence in

5871-416: The country, dismissed this as irrelevant and warned Tshisekedi that he would have no part in a new government if he accepted the post. The ADFLC made consistent progress in its advance from the east throughout April 1997, and by May its troops had reached the outskirts of Kinshasa . Mobutu fled Kinshasa on 16 May, and the "libérateurs" (liberators) entered the capital without serious resistance. Mobutu fled

5974-411: The country. Within 24 hours, Rwandan military advisers living in Kinshasa were unceremoniously flown out. The people most alarmed by this order were the Banyamulenge Tutsi of eastern Congo. Their tensions with neighboring ethnic groups had been a contributing factor in the genesis of the First Congo War and they were also used by Rwanda to affect events across the border in the DRC. On 2 August 1998,

6077-457: The deadliest conflict since World War II , according to a 2008 report by the International Rescue Committee . However, this figure has been disputed, with some researchers arguing that many of the deaths may have occurred regardless of the war and that the actual death toll was closer to 3 million. The conflict also displaced approximately 2 million people, forcing them to flee their homes or seek asylum in neighboring countries. Additionally,

6180-469: The early years of the conflict portrayed him as an uncommitted and uninspiring leader . Kabila's army began a slow movement west in December 1996, near the end of the Great Lakes refugee crisis , taking control of border towns and mines and solidifying control. There were reports of massacres and of brutal repression by the rebel army. A UN human-rights investigator published statements from witnesses claiming that Kabila's Alliance of Democratic Forces for

6283-418: The east had begun to threaten Kinshasa by late August. Uganda, while retaining joint support of the RCD with Rwanda, also created a rebel group that it supported exclusively, the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC). Despite the movement of the front lines, fighting continued throughout the country. Even as rebel forces advanced on Kinshasa, government forces continued to battle for control of towns in

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6386-482: The east of the country. The Hutu militants with whom Kabila was co-operating were also a significant force in the east. Nevertheless, the fall of the capital and of Kabila, who had spent the previous weeks desperately seeking support from various African nations and Cuba , seemed increasingly certain. The rebel offensive was abruptly reversed as Kabila's diplomatic efforts bore fruit. The first African countries to respond to Kabila's request for help were fellow members of

6489-443: The elections results prompted a run-off vote between Kabila and Bemba which was held on 29 October. On 15 November, the electoral commission announced the official results and Kabila was declared the winner, with 58.05% of the vote. These results were confirmed by the Supreme Court on 27 November 2006, and Kabila was inaugurated on 6 December 2006 as the country's newly elected president. He named Antoine Gizenga , who placed third in

6592-434: The elections, complaining of "treachery, lies and terror", and calling on the election commission to correct "serious errors". On 17 January 2015, Congo's parliament passed an electoral law requiring a census before the next elections. On 19 January protests led by students at the University of Kinshasa broke out . The protests began following the announcement of a proposed law that would allow Kabila to remain in power until

6695-469: The end of 2017. Under the agreement opposition leader Étienne Tshisekedi will oversee that the deal is implemented and the country's Prime Minister will be appointed by the opposition. In late February 2018 the ministry of international affairs of Botswana told Kabila that it was time to go and said the "worsening humanitarian situation" in DRC is compounded by the fact that "its leader has persistently delayed holding elections, and has lost control over

6798-413: The first round of the presidential election (and then backed Kabila in the second round) as prime minister on 30 December. In 2006, Kabila responded to evidence of widespread sex crimes committed by the Congolese military by describing the acts as "simply unforgivable". He pointed out that 300 soldiers had been convicted of sex crimes, although he added that this was not enough. In December 2011, Kabila

6901-427: The following weeks: Chad , Libya and Sudan . A multisided war thus began. In September 1998, Zimbabwean forces flown into Kinshasa held off a rebel advance that reached the outskirts of the capital, while Angolan units attacked northward from its borders and eastward from the Angolan territory of Cabinda , against the besieging rebel forces. This intervention by various nations saved the Kabila government and pushed

7004-511: The former governor of Katanga Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo and now an opposition figure, announced that he was running for president in an election that was supposed to be held by the end of 2016, his house was surrounded by security forces wanting to arrest him. Although Kabila's forces have scored an important victory against one large rebel group, the M23 , in 2013, many other armed groups have splintered into dangerous movements. And by 2016 new ones had risen, like militias in

7107-431: The front line. Joseph Kabila has been described as "a more adept political leader than his father". As Chris Talbot notes, an article in The Washington Post "favourably contrasted Joseph Kabila – Western-educated and English-speaking – with his father." The author of the Washington Post article writes that Joseph Kabila gave diplomats "hope that things have changed", in contrast to Laurent-Désiré Kabila, who "stood as

7210-407: The government announced on state television that the desperate attempt by Zimbabwean medical personnel to save Kabila had failed and that Kabila had died from his wounds. His remains were returned for a state funeral on 26 January 2001. Shortly after the assassination, the French newspaper Le Monde published a story in which self-identified assassination plotters revealed documents and details of

7313-454: The government base of Kitona on the Atlantic coast. The planes landed in the middle of the Kitona base, but the motley collection of troops there (ex-FAZ, but also Angolan UNITA elements and former Pascal Lissouba militiamen from Brazzaville ) were in poor condition and in no condition to fight unless given food and weapons. They were quickly won over to the Rwandan side. More towns in the east and around Kitona fell in rapid succession, as

7416-752: The largest wars in African history. Although a peace agreement was signed in 2002, and the war officially ended on 18 July 2003 with the establishment of the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo , violence has persisted in various regions, particularly in the east, through ongoing conflicts such as the Lord's Resistance Army insurgency and the Kivu and Ituri conflicts . The Second Congo War and its aftermath caused an estimated 5.4 million deaths, primarily due to disease and malnutrition, making it

7519-406: The leadership of South Africa , peace talks held in that country between April and December 2002 led to the signing of a "comprehensive peace agreement." The Sun City Agreement was formalised on 19 April 2002. It was a framework for providing the Congo with a unified, multiparty government and democratic elections. However, critics noted that there were no stipulations regarding the unification of

7622-549: The major impediment to a peaceful settlement of the war launched in August 1998 to unseat him." A peace accord Laurent signed in the summer of 1999, the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement , "remained unfulfilled largely because he kept staging new offensives while blocking deployment of U.N. peacekeepers in government-held territory." To compare, according to an analyst from the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit , "The only obstruction had been Kabila because

7725-410: The massacre to be recognized as a genocide . On 18 July 2003, the Transitional Government came into being as specified in the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement out of the warring parties. The agreement obliges the parties to carry out a plan to reunify the country, disarm and integrate the warring parties and hold elections. There were numerous problems, resulting in continued instability in much of

7828-440: The mediation of Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi , but both the RCD and Rwanda refused to take part. On 16 May Wamba was ousted as head of the RCD in favour of a pro-Rwanda figure, Dr. Emile Ilunga . Seven days later the various factions of the RCD clashed over control of Kisangani. On 8 June rebel factions met to try to create a common front against Kabila. Despite these efforts, the occupying armed forces of Uganda recreated

7931-502: The military capability to halt it nor the political capital to attract international assistance. With active support from Uganda , Rwanda, and Angola , the Tutsi forces of Laurent-Désiré Kabila moved methodically down the Congo River , encountering only light resistance from the poorly trained, ill-disciplined forces of Mobutu 's crumbling regime. The bulk of Kabila's fighters were Tutsi, and many were veterans of various conflicts in

8034-532: The neighboring governments of Rwanda and Uganda . In 2021, it was reported that Kabila embezzled over $ 138 million during his presidency. Joseph Kabila Kabange and his twin sister Jaynet Kabila were born on 4 June 1971. According to official accounts, the twins were born at Hewabora, a small village in the Fizi Territory of the South Kivu Province , in eastern DRC. Rumors have abounded that Kabila

8137-464: The outcome of the war and exhibiting outstanding tactical proficiency. Joseph Kabila Joseph Kabila Kabange ( / k æ ˈ b iː l ə / kab- EE -lə , French: [ʒozɛf kabila] ; born 4 June 1971) is a Congolese politician who served as President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo between January 2001 and January 2019. He took office ten days after the assassination of his father, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila in

8240-455: The peace agreement under which Pweto was declared a demilitarized zone. Towards the end of the war, the RCD-Goma was thought to have between 20,000 and 30,000 troops. The RCD-Goma did not provide any security to civilians within the territory they controlled. Their troops, mainly of Banyamulenge ethnic group ( Tutsis originally from Rwanda), committed abuses against non-combatants. RCD-Goma officials demanded that their home constituents produce

8343-401: The plot to murder Kabila. The plotters were mainly kadogos who had been under Kabila's command since 1996, and were aggrieved over their poor treatment. The catalyst for the assassination appeared to be the execution of 47 kadogos accused of plotting against Kabila. The execution, witnessed by Kabila, took place the day before his assassination. While the role of the disgruntled kadogos

8446-544: The political situation is not normalised. Kabila's second term as president of the Democratic Republic of Congo was due to end on 20 December 2016. A statement issued by his spokesperson on 19 December 2016, stated that Joseph Kabila would remain in post until a new president is in place following elections which will not be held until at least April 2018. Kabila subsequently installed a new cabinet led by prime minister Samy Badibanga , resulting in protests in which at least 40 people were killed. Under articles 75 and 76 of

8549-548: The province of Ituri , based off of the province of Kibali-Ituri which previously existed from 1962 to 1966 in the Republic of the Congo. Perceived favoritism to the ethnic Hema by the Ugandan forces sparked the ethnic clash of the Ituri conflict , sometimes referred to as a "war within a war". Nevertheless, diplomatic circumstances contributed to the first ceasefire of the war. In July 1999

8652-464: The rebel Movement for the Liberation of the Congo , backed by Uganda and controlling much of the north of the country, and one from the RCD-Goma. Azarias Ruberwa Manywa , secretary-general of the RCD-Goma, was named his movement's candidate for vice-president in a two-year national transition government. The RCD-Goma held 94 out of 500 seats in the National Assembly . Ruberwa ran for President in

8755-448: The rebel front lines away from the capital. However, it was unable to defeat the rebel forces, and the advance threatened to escalate into direct conflict with the national armies of Uganda and Rwanda. In November 1998 a new Ugandan-backed rebel group, the Movement for the Liberation of Congo , was reported in the north of the country. On 6 November Rwandan President Paul Kagame admitted for the first time that Rwandan forces were assisting

8858-609: The relationship between the two countries, but implementation proved troublesome. Eleven days later, the first Rwandan soldiers were withdrawn from the eastern DRC. On 5 October Rwanda announced the completion of its withdrawal; MONUC confirmed the departure of over 20,000 Rwandan soldiers. On 21 October, the UN published its expert panel's report on the pillage of natural resources by armed groups. Both Rwanda and Uganda rejected accusations that senior political and military figures were involved in illicit trafficking of plundered resources. Zimbabwe Defense Minister Sydney Sekeramayi says

8961-792: The scheduled election. Jaynet Kabila , the sister of Kabila, was named in the Panama Papers . Document leaks in 2016 revealed that she is a part-owner of a major Congolese television company, Digital Congo TV  [ fr ] , through offshore subsidiaries. Kabila is vastly unpopular, partly because of the conflicts in the Congo, but also because of the widespread belief that he has enriched himself and his family while ignoring millions of poor Congolese. There have been protests against his attempts to change term limits and extend his rule. Harsh demonstrations erupted on 20 April 2016 in Lubumbashi , one of Congo's biggest cities. When Moise Katumbi ,

9064-462: The security of his country". On December 30, 2018 the presidential election to determine the successor to Kabila was held. Kabila endorsed Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary , his former interior minister. On January 10, 2019, the electoral commission announced opposition candidate Félix Tshisekedi as the winner of the vote. Since leaving the presidency, Kabila has made Kingakati farm his main residence. The estate, located 50 km east of Kinshasa,

9167-536: The terms of the constitution adopted in 2006. Officials suggested that elections would be held in November 2016, but on 29 September 2016, the nation's electoral authority announced that the election would not be held until early 2018. Talk focused on the need for a census before holding elections. In August 2018, Kabila announced that he would step down and not seek reelection in the December 2018 general election . Kabila

9270-419: The towns and raped or killed civilians who were unable to escape. In February 2006, Human Rights Watch accused the government of doing nothing to capture Nkunda despite knowing of his location. Under the power-sharing accord that ended the civil war, Kabila remained president, with four vice-presidents. One vice-president came from Kabila's political movement, one from the unarmed political opposition, one from

9373-481: The war began to worsen. Many members of the RCD either gave up fighting or decided to join Kabila's government. Moreover, the Banyamulenge , the backbone of Rwanda's militia forces, became increasingly tired of control from Kigali and the unending conflict. A number of them mutinied, leading to violent clashes between them and Rwandan forces. At the same time, the western Congo was becoming increasingly secure under

9476-498: The war was heavily funded by the trade of conflict minerals , which continues to fuel violence in the region. The First Congo War began in 1996 as Rwanda increasingly expressed concern that Hutu members of Rassemblement Démocratique pour le Rwanda (RDR) militias were carrying out cross-border raids from what was then Zaire , and planning an invasion of Rwanda. The militias, mostly Hutu , had entrenched themselves in refugee camps in eastern Zaire, where many had fled to escape

9579-468: The younger Kabila. International aid was resumed as inflation was brought under control. In March, the RCD-Goma faction captured Moliro , a town located on the coast of Lake Tanganyika , from government forces. According to said faction, the town was shelled by government gunboats the following day in response. The capture was seen as a violation of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement. Under

9682-685: Was actually born in Tanzania , which would make him a citizen of that country. He is the son of long time rebel, former AFDL leader and president of the DRC Laurent-Désiré Kabila and Sifa Mahanya. Kabila's childhood coincided with the low point of his father's political and military career. He was raised in relative remoteness, with few records of his early days. Kabila attended a primary school organized by his father's rebel forces, before moving to Tanzania where he completed primary and secondary school. Due to his father's status as an enemy of Zairean strongman Mobutu Sese Seko , Kabila posed as

9785-408: Was adopted unanimously on 19 March 2002. The Council condemned the capture of the town of Moliro by the RCD-Goma, describing it as a major violation of the ceasefire. Stressing that no party would be allowed to make military gains during the peace process, the UN demanded that the RCD immediately withdraw from Moliro and Pweto and for all other parties to withdraw to defensive positions called for in

9888-510: Was his second home while he was still in power. In April 2021, President Felix Tshisekedi succeeded in ousting the last remaining elements of his government who were loyal to former leader Kabila. In May 2021, Tshisekedi called for a review of mining contracts signed with China by Kabila, especially the Sicomines multibillion 'minerals-for-infrastructure' deal . In November 2021, a judicial investigation targeting Kabila and his associates

9991-404: Was opened in Kinshasa after revelations of alleged embezzlement of $ 138 million. Kabila married Olive Lembe di Sita , on 1 June 2006. The wedding ceremonies took place on 17 June 2006. Kabila and his wife have a daughter, born in 2001, named Sifa, after Kabila's mother. As Kabila is Protestant and Lembe di Sita is Catholic, the wedding ceremonies were ecumenical ; they were officiated by both

10094-405: Was organising a genocide against their Tutsi brethren in the Kivu region. The degree to which Rwandan intervention was motivated by a desire to protect the Banyamulenge, as opposed to using them as a smokescreen for its regional aspirations after ousting Mobutu, is still being debated. In a bold move, Rwandan soldiers under the command of James Kabarebe hijacked three planes and flew them to

10197-631: Was ousted from the leadership. Wamba dia Wamba established a new group based on the town of Kisangani , supported by Uganda, that became known as the RCD-Kisangani (RCD-K) or later the RCD-Liberation Movement (RCD-LM). Dr. Emile Ilunga was named leader of the mainstream Rwanda-backed faction known as the RCD-Goma from its base in the town of Goma. By June 2000, the RCD-Goma had taken control of Kisangani, supported by Ugandan and Rwandan troops. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1399

10300-458: Was re-elected for a second term as president. After the results were announced on 9 December, there was violent unrest in Kinshasa and Mbuji-Mayi , where official tallies showed that a strong majority had voted for the opposition candidate Étienne Tshisekedi . Official observers from the Carter Center reported that returns from almost 2,000 polling stations in areas where support for Tshisekedi

10403-499: Was strong had been lost and not included in the official results. They described the election as lacking credibility. On 20 December, Kabila was sworn in for a second term, promising to invest in infrastructure and public services. However, Tshisekedi maintained that the result of the election was illegitimate and said that he intended also to "swear himself in" as president. In January 2012, Catholic bishops in DR Congo also condemned

10506-502: Was succeeded by Félix Tshisekedi in the country's first peaceful transition of power since independence. Independent observers concluded that Tshisikedi lost heavily to another candidate, Martin Fayulu , and that Kabila had fixed the official result for the candidate most likely to be most helpful to him in the latter's post-presidency period. While in power, Kabila faced continuous wars in eastern Congo and internal rebel forces supported by

10609-409: Was wounded but still alive when he was flown to Zimbabwe for intensive care. The circumstances of his assassination are unclear, and have been the subject of considerable rumours and disagreements. The consensus is that Kabila was shot by one of his bodyguards, the 18-year-old Rashidi Mizele , a kadogo (child soldier). Mizele had previously been misidentified as Rashidi Kasereka. Two days later

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