Kinshasa – A coalition of prominent Congolese opposition leaders, including former President Joseph Kabila, has issued a joint declaration calling for an inclusive national dialogue to address the root causes of the country's long-standing crises.
The statement, signed on April 30 by Kabila, Martin Fayulu, Moïse Katumbi, and Delly Sesanga, comes days after the DR Congo government and M23 rebels signed a ceasefire and Declaration of Principles in the United States.
The declaration welcomes the recent diplomatic breakthroughs, including the April 23 agreement between the DR Congo and M23-led Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), and the April 25 US-brokered principles signed between DR Congo and Rwanda.
But the opposition warns these only address external and military dimensions of the conflict and fall short of a durable solution.
“These are steps forward,” said Fayulu, leader of ECiDé and a key opposition figure.
“But we cannot end decades of bloodshed by ignoring the internal rot—electoral fraud, bad governance, impunity, and corruption have hollowed out this nation.”
The joint statement marks a political turning point, notably featuring the signature of Joseph Kabila, who recently returned to the public sphere after years of self-imposed exile.
Kabila’s party, the Common Front for Congo (FCC), was banned last month by the Kinshasa government, which accused it of supporting M23, a charge the FCC denies.
The signatories urge foreign powers and regional bodies behind the peace efforts—such as the African Union, Qatar, and the US—to support a separate, Congolese-led national dialogue facilitated by the Catholic Church (CENCO) and the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC).
This initiative, they argue, is the only one rooted in the will of the Congolese people.
“This is not just a war of bullets; it’s a war against dignity, against democracy,” said Katumbi, leader of Ensemble pour la République.
“No foreign roadmap can save Congo if we don’t solve our own political decay.”
The appeal comes as M23 rebels maintain de facto control over large parts of North Kivu and South Kivu, where they have set up parallel administrations.
Although the ceasefire has brought a temporary lull in fighting, humanitarian groups warn that the displacement crisis remains dire, with millions still unable to return to their homes.
“Our priority must be the return of refugees and the displaced,” said Sesanga of the Envol party.
“But this cannot happen unless foreign troops and mercenaries leave our soil, and Congolese forces regain full sovereignty over our territory.”
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has begun withdrawing its forces from Goma following the ceasefire.
But tensions remain high, and the future of foreign-backed militias and resource exploitation in eastern DR Congo remains unresolved.
The opposition calls for full transparency in all resource and infrastructure deals signed during recent peace negotiations and warns that economic integration with neighbouring countries must not come at the cost of Congolese sovereignty.
“The minerals of Ituri, of Kivu, must serve our children, not foreign syndicates or corrupt generals,” said Fayulu.
As the opposition builds momentum for internal reconciliation, all eyes now turn to President Félix Tshisekedi’s next move.
Critics accuse his administration of ruling without legitimacy after contested elections in December 2023.
“There can be no peace without truth,” Fayulu said. “And the truth must come from an honest conversation among Congolese—free of fear, free of foreign manipulation.”
The joint statement concludes with an urgent appeal to all parties, including international mediators, to coordinate efforts under the banner of a Congolese-led solution.
“Peace in DR Congo is peace for the Great Lakes,” it reads. “Let the people speak.”