Joseph Kabila Leads Opposition Meeting in Nairobi to Challenge Tshisekedi’s Leadership

Nairobi, October 11, 2025 - Former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila Kabange, has convened and is chairing a high-level meeting of opposition figures opposed to President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi. The gathering, currently taking place in Nairobi, has drawn several prominent Congolese political figures who once held senior government positions under Kabila’s administration.

Among those in attendance are Augustin Matata Ponyo, former Prime Minister (2012-2016); Seth Kikuni, a 2018 presidential candidate; Franck Diongo, leader of the MLP party; Néhémie Mwilanya, Kabila’s former chief of staff; Raymond Tshibanda, ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs; José Makila, former Deputy Prime Minister; Richard Muyej, ex-Governor of Lualaba; Kikaya Bin Karubi, former presidential advisor; and Patient Sayiba, former Director-General of OGEFREM.

Several key opposition figures were also invited but declined to attend, including Moïse Katumbi, leader of Ensemble pour la République; Martin Fayulu, who has recently pledged to support Tshisekedi in his fight against the AFC/M23 rebellion; Jean-Marc Kabund, former vice-president of the National Assembly; and Delly Sesanga, leader of Envol.

Although the meeting’s official agenda was not made public, sources close to the organizers indicate that the discussions focus on building a unified opposition coalition aimed at “rescuing the country” from what they describe as economic collapse, worsening insecurity, and social instability under Tshisekedi’s leadership.