Former Congolese president Joseph Kabila appears in Goma for the first time since arriving last mont

(29 May 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo - 29 May 2025
1. Joseph Kabila, former president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, seated before meeting with religious leaders
2. Various of Kabila walking to meet with religious leaders
3. Various of Kabila posing for photos with religious leaders
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Joël Amurani, bishop:
“As religious leaders, we told him to play the role of arbiter so that peace would return because for 18 years, he built so much that we cannot ignore. He did everything to reunify this country. And this same state still exists for him to get involved so that peace can return. What we as religious leaders are asking for is the return of peace and nothing but peace.”
5. Kabila shaking hands with religious leaders
6. Kabila walking with religious leaders
7. Traffic in central Goma
8. SOUNDBITE (Swahili) Alexis Bauma, Goma resident:
"I don't think Kabila can end the war because he was president of this country a long time ago but he didn't succeed. I don't think that today, when the situation is getting worse, he's coming to end it.”
9. Various of gas seller, Amani Safari, at stand
10. SOUNDBITE (Swahili) Amani Safari, Gas seller:
"His arrival in Goma is good because he's as Congolese as any of us. He is here to help us Congolese achieve peace. For us to have peace, we must go through him because he has a very good grasp of the problems the Congolese face, having been president for 18 years."
11. Various of traffic in Goma
STORYLINE:
Former Congolese president Joseph Kabila met with religious leaders as he appeared publicly in Goma Thursday, for the first time since he arrived in the rebel-controlled city in April.

His associates say he has travelled to Goma to help resolve the decades-long conflict in the region.

Kabila, who led Congo from 2001 to 2019, is accused by the government of supporting the Rwanda-backed rebels that have seized two major cities in the country's conflict-battered east.

He met with Congolese religious leaders, and did not address the press.

Bishop Joël Amurani said after the meeting that the leaders had asked Kabila to play arbiter in the conflict because of the work he did during his presidency.

“What we as religious leaders are asking for is the return of peace and nothing but peace,” he said.

Goma residents had mixed reactions.

Amani Safari, a gas salesman, said he believed Kabila’s experience made him capable of bringing peace to Congo.

“For us to have peace, we must go through him because he has a very good grasp of the problems the Congolese face,” he said.

Alexis Bauma was not so sure.

"I don't think Kabila can end the war,” he said.

“He was president of this country a long time ago but he didn't succeed.”

Last week Kabila accused the government of turning into a dictatorship with the backing of the parliament, a day after the Senate voted to lift his immunity to pave the way for his prosecution for alleged treason and war crimes.

The former Congolese leader has previously denied supporting the M23 rebels in eastern Congo, despite repeated claims from Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and the government that he was backing them and “preparing an insurrection” in the east.

He took office as president at the age of 29 and extended his mandate by delaying elections for two years after his term ended in 2016.

His father, former President Laurent Kabila, was assassinated in 2001.

The crisis he is accused of contributing to in eastern Congo continues to spread.


AP video by Justin Kabumba



Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...