Joseph Kabila

**Joseph Kabila Kabange** (/kæˈbiːlə/ *kab-EE-lə*, French: [ʒozɛf kabila]; born 4 June 1971) be Congolese politician plus former military officer wey serve as de fourth President of de Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2001 reach 2019. He take over office ten days after dem assassinate ein poppie, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila, wey happen insyd de Second Congo War. He form de People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) for 2002, plus dem allow am make he stay for power after de 2003 Pretoria Accord end de war, as de president of de country ein new transitional government. He win election as president for 2006, then win again for 2011 for ein second term. Since he step down after de 2018 election, Kabila, as former president, dey serve as senator for life. Kabila be de country ein second-longest serving president.

Kabila dey get credit say e end de Second Congo War plus bring small stability come most parts of de country, even though gbeɛ still dey go on for eastern DR Congo wey rebel forces, wey Rwanda plus Uganda dey support, dey cause. He encourage foreign investment for de mining sector plus improve infrastructure. Under ein rule, de country ein economy grow like five times. But as time go on, de economic growth slow down, plus e no spread well — most people for DR Congo still dey live under de international poverty line when he commot for office. He help put electoral institutions in place, plus for 2006, he lead de first multi-party election for de country wey dem do for decades. But both dat election and de one wey he win for 2011 get plenty gbeɛ, like electoral fraud claims plus protests. He rule under authoritarian government style, wey people accuse of embezzlement, corruption plus human rights abuses — like how security forces kill protestors. United States even sanction some of ein people for corruption plus say dem dey undermine democracy.

Kabila ein term suppose end 20 December 2016, based on de constitution wey dem adopt for 2006. Officials bin talk say elections go happen for November 2016, but on 29 September 2016, de electoral authority come announce say election no go fit happen until early 2018. Dem talk say dem need do census first before any election fit happen. Kabila popularity begin drop plus international community start dey pressurize am make he give up power. Eventually, dem reach agreement with de Catholic Church hierarchy say make dem appoint new government and prepare for elections. For August 2018, Kabila talk say he no go run again and go step down for de December 2018 general election. Félix Tshisekedi come succeed am, and dis be de first time wey DR Congo do peaceful handover of power since independence. But independent observers believe say Tshisekedi lose badly to Martin Fayulu, and say na Kabila arrange de official results make e favour de person wey go protect ein interest after e leave power.

## Early life den education (1971–1996)
Joseph Kabila Kabange plus ein twin sister Jaynet Kabila dem born dem on 4 June 1971. Dem born de twins for Hewa Bora, one small village insyd de secessionist state dem dey call Maquis of Fizi, wey dey de present-day South Kivu Province, for eastern DRC. Some people dey spread rumor say Kabila actually born for Tanzania, wey go mean say he be citizen for dat country. He be pikin of long-time rebel, former AFDL leader and DRC president Laurent-Désiré Kabila plus Sifa Mahanya.

Kabila ein childhood fall for de time wey ein poppie ein political plus military career dey down low. Dem raise am for one kind remote area, wey no too get plenty record about ein early life. Kabila go primary school wey ein poppie ein rebel forces organise, before dem move go Tanzania wey he take finish ein primary plus secondary school. Sake of say ein poppie be enemy to Zaireein strongman Mobutu Sese Seko, Kabila act like Tanzanian during school time make Zaireein spy people no sabi am.

## Guerrilla and army years (1996–2001)
Afta high school, Kabila follow military training for Tanzania, den later for Makerere University inside Uganda. For October 1996, Laurent-Désiré Kabila start campaign for Zaire to chase Mobutu ein regime comot, plus ein new army dem call Alliance of Democratic Forces for de Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL). Joseph Kabila turn commander for one AFDL unit wey get "kadogos" (child soldiers) plus e likely play big role for de heavy battles wey lead dem go Kinshasa, but nobody clear where exactly he dey during de war. E like say Kabila dey around when dem free Kisangani, sake of say media reports show say na him lead de rebel force wey capture de city afta four days of serious fight.

Weytin follow be say, afta AFDL win and ein poppie become president, Joseph Kabila go get more training for China under de PLA National Defense University.

When he come back from China, dem promote am to major-general, plus dem make am Deputy Chief of Staff for Congolese Armed Forces (FAC) for 1998. Then for 2000, dem make am Chief of Staff for de Land Forces, wey he hold till ein poppie die for January 2001. As Chief of Staff, he be one of de main military leaders wey dey control government soldiers during de Second Congo War (1998–2003).

## Peace talks and transitional government (2001–2006)
Joseph Kabila take over de presidency on 26 January 2001 afta dem kill ein poppie Laurent-Désiré Kabila, so he turn de first head of government for de world wey dem born for de 1970s. He be just 29 years old dat time, and people see am say he too young plus e no get experience. Some reports even talk say he no really wan be president, but na only him de advisers fit agree on. For ein swearing-in speech, Joseph Kabila talk say e dey aim to "bring back peace plus national unity," continue de peace talks wey stop under ein poppie, bring back democracy, plus make de economy open and free.

E later try settle de civil war wey dey go on by negotiating peace deal dem plus rebel groups wey Rwanda and Uganda dey support—de same two countries wey support ein poppie, Laurent-Désiré Kabila ein rebel group take enter power three years earlier. Dis negotiation start insyd 2001 and even though yawa happen some times like say de fight go start again, dem still push de process. Na South African Presido Thabo Mbeki plus UN special envoy Moustapha Niasse take put pressure top make dem settle. De final peace deal base on de 2002 agreement wey dem sign for Inter-Congolese Dialogue wey happen for Sun City, South Africa. Dis agreement dey like say e end de Second Congo War. Under de agreement, Joseph Kabila remain as presido and head of state of DRC. Dem set transitional government under am, wey include leaders of de two main rebel groups—MLC and RCD-Goma—as vice-presidos. De oda two vice-presidos be one from civilian opposition and one from de government. Dis agreement also set foundation for legislature and military reforms, plus dem plan say elections go happen within two years, but e fit extend by extra six months.

Dem start implement de peace agreement under eye of international monitoring teams, plus United Nations wey bring dem biggest peacekeeping mission ever come de country. Dem form de first cabinet for June 2003, den de National Assembly and de Senate follow for de next month. For 2004, dem set up de Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) and pass de Nationality Act to solve de kasala wey dey over who truly be Congolese. Parliament begin work on new constitution for February 2005, and by May 2005 dem pass de draft version, Kabila and South African Presido Thabo Mbeki sef dey de session. De new constitution bring independent judiciary and set semi-presidential system wey mean say presido go appoint prime minister, but de prime minister for get support from de majority for parliament before e fit hold position.

Wen de electoral law process slow for early 2005, dem start dey talk say election fit delay six months. Dis cause small gbege insyd government, especially wit MLC, wey make dem delay some government appointments. But di mata calm down after Kabila yarn wit Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba. At de same time, de old opposition party UPDS start dey call for protest, and Kinshasa newspapers begin dey shout say "Ukrainian scenario" dey come. But de police block all de protest plans wey UPDS wan do. From June go reach December 2005, de electoral commission register 25 million people for de whole DRC, even tho de infrastructure bad. Dis registration na to prepare for de first free vote since 1965 — de constitutional referendum wey dem do for end of dat year. De new constitution pass wit 84 percent of de vote, and 62 percent of voters show up. De biggest support come from eastern DRC. Even tho over 40 political parties boycott de vote, Kabila still sign de constitution into law for February 2006.

De formation of de Armed Forces of de Democratic Republic of de Congo (FARDC), wey dem try do by join government soldiers plus rebel groups, no move fast. Kabila set up ein own "military household" wey no be part of de main FARDC command wey dem start for 2003, plus he get ein own presidential guard wey dey chop beta pay and beta equipment pass de normal army. De rebel leaders too still dey control their own fighters outside de FARDC command line, and dem still dey rule de same area wey dem dey before. For May 2005, dem come do plan say make dem disarm, retrain, and mix de rebel fighters into new brigades, but dem no finish dat plan before 2006, so de army still dey jam and no dey work fine.

For 28 March 2004, dem try do coup or mutiny near de capital Kinshasa—dem say na former guard members of Mobutu Sese Seko (wey Kabila ein poppie overthrow for 1997 before Mobutu die) dey behind am, but de thing no work. Then again for 11 June 2004, coup people led by Major Eric Lenge try take power and announce for state radio say dem suspend de transitional government, but loyal soldiers come scatter dem plan.

For October 2004, Kabila visit de eastern part of DRC for de first time since war end. When he reach Kisangani — one town wey rebels plus foreign soldiers been occupy — dem show de visit as sign say peace and unity don come back to de country. But de presidential guard come disarm de former rebels wey dey wait make dem join FARDC, and carry dem go camp wey dey outside de town. Some Western observers see de visit as sign say Kabila don start ein election campaign. Kabila ein campaign message carry one development plan wey dem call *Cinq Chantiers* (Five Construction Sites). E include: road and infrastructure, job creation, education, water plus electricity, and health.

## First presidential term (2006–2011)
Kabila run for president as independent, but Alliance of de Presidential Majority come join body support am. Dis alliance carry ein party — People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) — plus like 30 other parties. During de campaign, opposition people attack am say e no be true Congolese, say e be Rwandan. For DRC, plenty people get bad eye for Rwanda, so dem try use dat against am, call am "candidate wey dey work for foreign powers." But Western observers still see am as de main guy wey go fit win, because opposition dem no get unity or enough money, and many people for Congo still hate de old rebel leaders.

Dem do presidential election for 30 July 2006, after dem don postpone am from June. De new constitution reduce de age wey person fit take contest for president from 35 to 30 years; Kabila turn 35 just small time before de election. For March 2006, he register as one of de candidates. Even tho de new constitution talk say dem suppose do debate between de last two candidates wey remain for de presidential race, no debate happen at all. Plenty people talk say dis thing no follow constitution.

According to some results wey cause yawa, wey dem announce for 20 August, Kabila win 45% of de vote, and im main challenger — vice-president and former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba — get 20%. Because kasala dey around how de results take happen, dem come do second round vote between Kabila and Bemba on 29 October. On 15 November, de electoral commission release official results and talk say Kabila win, with 58.05% of de vote. Supreme Court confirm de results on 27 November 2006, and Kabila do swearing-in on 6 December 2006 as de new president of de country. Both local and international observers talk say de election be generally free and fair, even tho dem notice small irregularities. On 30 December, Kabila appoint Antoine Gizenga — wey come third for first round and later support am — as prime minister.

For 2006, Kabila react to di evidence say Congolese army dey do plenty sex crimes, and e talk say de kain acts be “simply unforgivable.” E talk say dem don convict 300 soldiers for dis kain crimes, but e still add say e no reach at all.

One big economic move wey e start for e first term and continue enter e second term be di Sicomines (Sino-Congolais des Mines) “resources-for-infrastructure” deal wey e do plus China. Dem say Kabila dem try beg Western countries make dem fund e "Cinq Chantiers" program but dem no gree, so e go turn face China.

DRC sign one agreement for September 2007 wey give majority shares of one joint company (Sicomines) to one Chinese group wey China Railway Engineering Corporation get. DRC own mining company, Gécamines, get di rest. Di plan be say Sicomines go fit mine for Katanga Province, and di Chinese company go build roads, bridges and other things take cover am. China banks gree bring US$6.5 billion make dem take do am. Dis deal na di first big one wey DRC do plus China and e be di biggest of e kind for Congo history

Dis deal cause plenty gbege because na di DRC government guarantee di loans, so na dem carry di risk, no be di Chinese wey sign di deal. Wen IMF plus civil society groups begin worry say Congo no go fit pay back di loan, dem start new talks. By 2009, dem finally sign di real deal. For di new deal, dem comot DRC hand for di mining risk side, but dem still leave di loan guarantee for di infrastructure projects, wey dem reduce to US$3 billion. Plus dat one, Sicomines no need pay tax for Congo until dem finish pay di loans. Plenty opposition people and civil society groups vex for Kabila over dis deal. Dem talk say di negotiations no dey clear and na just one of Kabila ein advisors do most of di talks. Dem say China benefit pass Congo. But people for Kabila ein government talk say even tho Congo no get strong hand for di bargaining, di infrastructure investment still help small. Dem add say di government dey under pressure to show quick results for di development promises wey dem make. People wey support di Sicomines deal talk say na "win-win" for both China and Congo.

## Second presidential term (2011–2016)
For December 2011, Kabila win second term as president. But after dem announce di results on 9 December, gbege burst for Kinshasa plus Mbuji-Mayi, because di official results show say opposition candidate Étienne Tshisekedi lose—even tho many people for dat side vote for am. Observers from di Carter Center talk say dem no see results from almost 2,000 polling stations wey dey for areas wey support Tshisekedi strong. Dem talk say dem results loss and dem no add am to di final count. Di Carter Center conclude say di election no get credibility. On 20 December, Kabila still do swearing-in for ein second term, and e promise say e go invest for infrastructure plus public services. But Tshisekedi no gree, e talk say di election no be legit and e go still "swear himself in" as president.

For January 2012, Catholic bishops for DR Congo blast di election wey just pass. Dem talk say di whole thing full of “betrayal, lies plus fear tactics,” and dem beg de election commission make dem fix di “serious mistakes” wey happen.

Then for 17 January 2015, Congo parliament pass one electoral law wey say dem go do census before any new election fit happen. Two days later, on 19 January, students for University of Kinshasa start protest. Di protest start because dem hear say de new law go make Kabila remain for power till dem do census—even tho election bin dey planned for 2016. By Wednesday 21 January, fight burst between police and protest people, and e kill at least 42 people (na wetin some reports talk). But di government claim say na only 15 people die.

After all dis yawa, di Senate comot di census requirement from de law. Then for October 2015, Moïse Katumbi talk say e no dey again for di ruling party because e no agree wit dem over di way dem dey handle di upcoming election.

Kabila no dey popular again, partly sake of de gbege dem dey happen for Congo, plus de strong belief say he don chop plenty money plus en family, while he no dey mind de millions of poor Congolese people. Plenty protest don burst against how he dey try change term limits make he fit stay for power longer. One serious demonstration happen on 20 April 2016 for Lubumbashi, one big city for Congo.

Wen Moise Katumbi, wey be former governor of Katanga Province and now opposition man, talk say he go run for president for de election wey suppose happen end of 2016, security people come surround en house say dem wan arrest am.

Even tho Kabila en forces win big fight against one strong rebel group, M23, for 2013, plenty other armed groups still break away come turn dangerous gangs. By 2016, new ones don rise, like de militias for Nyunzu area wey don kill hundreds of people.

## Delayed election den extended presidency (2016–2019)
According to de Constitution of Democratic Republic of de Congo, President Kabila no suppose serve more than two terms. But on 19 September 2016, heavy protest burst out for Kinshasa wey dey call make he step down as de law talk. Seventeen people die for dat gbege. Elections to choose who go replace Kabila bin schedule for 27 November 2016. But on 29 September 2016, de electoral authority come talk say de election no go happen till early 2018. De commission vice president talk say dem no call de election for 2016 because dem no sabi how many voters dey. But de opposition believe say Kabila na im dey delay de election by force so he fit still hold power.

Partly as how de election delay go, United States drop sanctions for two people wey dey insyd Kabila ein close people—John Numbi plus Gabriel Amisi Kumba—on 28th September. Dis move be like signal to President Kabila say make e respect ein country ein constitution.

More people still plan demo to mark how de presidential term end pass. Opposition groups dey talk say if de elections delay more, e go cause civil war.

Maman Sidikou, wey be Secretary-General ein Special Representative for DR Congo plus de head of MONUSCO, talk say if dem no fix dis political gbegs sharp, e fit turn violent fast fast.

Kabila ein second term as president for Democratic Republic of Congo for end on 20 December 2016. But statement wey come out from ein spokesperson on 19 December 2016 talk say Joseph Kabila go still remain for de seat till dem get new president, as elections no go happen till at least April 2018.

After dat, Kabila appoint new cabinet wey prime minister Samy Badibanga take lead. Dis one cause protest wey at least 40 people take lose demma lives.

Based on article 75 plus 76 inside de Constitution of Democratic Republic of Congo, if de office of de president come empty, de Chairman of de Senate—wey be Léon Kengo now—go take over as acting president.

On 23 December, dem propose agreement between de main opposition group plus Kabila ein government, wey de government agree say dem no go change de constitution and dem go step down before 2017 finish. Under de agreement, opposition leader Étienne Tshisekedi go make sure say dem carry de deal go through, plus de Prime Minister for de country go come from de opposition side.

By late February 2018, de ministry of international affairs for Botswana tell Kabila say e be time e step down. Dem talk say de “worsening humanitarian situation” for DRC dey get worse because “ein leader dey always delay elections, plus e no fit control de security for ein country” again.

On 30 December 2018, dem hold presidential election to choose who go take over from Kabila. Kabila support Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, ein former interior minister. Then on 10 January 2019, de electoral commission announce say opposition candidate Félix Tshisekedi win de vote.

## Post-presidency (2019–present)
Since e commot from presidency, Kabila make Kingakati farm ein main house. Dis estate wey dey 50 km east of Kinshasa be ein second home when e still dey power.

For April 2021, President Felix Tshisekedi succeed take comot de last people for ein government wey still dey loyal to Kabila.

Then for May 2021, Tshisekedi call say make dem check de mining contracts wey Kabila sign plus China, especially de Sicomines deal wey cost plenty billions, wey dem trade minerals for infrastructure.

By November 2021, court people for Kinshasa open investigation against Kabila plus ein people after dem hear say $138 million loss from bad handling. Bloomberg News come talk say some bank records show say Kabila ein family chop plenty bribe from Chinese companies wey dey involved for de Sicomines deal.

For February 2025, Kabila bash President Tshisekedi say e no dey handle de M23 wahala well because of bad governance, plus e accuse am say e dey try turn himself into "absolute ruler of de country" by pressing political opposition. Tshisekedi too talk say Kabila dey back M23 rebels during de Munich Security Conference wey happen dat same month. Early March 2025, one cabinet member from Tshisekedi ein side, Jean-Pierre Bemba, come talk say Kabila dey support M23, de Congo River Alliance, plus Mobondo militia wey dey cause gbege for western DR Congo. But de executive secretary of Kabila ein party, PPRD, deny de talk. Still for dat month, dem talk say Kabila meet plus Moïse Katumbi plus other opposition leaders to discuss how de country ein politics go go. E still attend funeral of de Namibian president, Sam Nujoma, wey e take meet some foreign leaders. For interview wey e do for Namibia, Kabila compare wetin dey go on now to de Second Congo War, plus e beg say make dem do peaceful solution for de M23 matter, plus make foreign soldiers commot from Congo land. 

Then for April 2025, Kabila, wey go exile by einself since 2023, go visit Goma, de city wey M23 dey control. One of ein people talk say e go “join for peace efforts”. But as e do dat, Congolese government vex, suspend Kabila ein party—People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy—because of ein “overt” activism, plus de Senate vote make dem lift ein parliamentary immunity.

## Personal life
Kabila marry Olive Lembe di Sita on 1 June 2006. Dem do de wedding ceremonies on 17 June 2006. Kabila plus ein wife get one daughter wey dem born 2001, her name be Sifa—dem name am after Kabila ein mommie. Dem get one son too wey dem born 2008, ein name be Laurent-Désiré Jr. Kabila get property outside Kinshasa, inside dem get 71,000 hectares of farmland. Ein family dey own or dey part-own like 80 companies across plenty different industries for DRC, including mining. Ein hobbies be say e dey enjoy watch NBA, read books, play PlayStation 4, plus e dey ride ein motorbikes.

Kabila grow up outside Congo, so when e become president, de only languages wey e fit speak well be English plus Swahili. E no dey fluent for French—wey be de official language for DRC—nor Lingala, wey plenty people for Kinshasa dey use.

Because Kabila be Anglican Protestant and Olive Lembe di Sita be Catholic, de wedding ceremonies be ecumenical. Dem do am under de Catholic Archbishop of Kinshasa, Cardinal Frederic Etsou Bamungwabi, plus Pierre Marini Bodho—wey be head bishop for Church of Christ in Congo, de umbrella church for most denominations for de country, wey locals dey call “The Protestant Church”.

For July 2021, Joseph Kabila complete ein master’s degree. E get ein certification from University of Johannesburg for South Africa. E finish ein Master's programme for Political Science plus International Relations through distance learning.

## References


## Sources

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## External links

* Joseph Kabila, The Untold Story
* Rape in the DRC
* BBC Country Profile
* Official website of the President of the DRC
* Joseph Kabila 2011 campaign site Archived 19 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine
* Democratic Republic of the Congo – Permanent Mission to the United Nations
* DR Congo presidential candidates face off in second round Jane's Intelligence Watch Report, 22 August 2006
* For Congo's Leader, Middling Reviews by Jeffrey Gettleman, *The New York Times*, 4 April 2009