“Save the DRC” Opposition Movement Holds Second Conclave

Kinshasa, April 13, 2026 - The opposition movement “Save the DRC,” led by former President Joseph Kabila, has concluded its second conclave held from April 6 to 8, 2026, focusing on the country’s political, security, economic, and social situation. In a statement issued after the meeting, the movement said participants reviewed ongoing national crises and various domestic and international initiatives aimed at resolving them. The group, which operates from outside the Democratic Republic of Congo, was established in October 2025 in Nairobi and brings together exiled political figures and banned political actors. The movement strongly criticized what it described as a “deliberate slide toward dictatorship” under the current administration, led by President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, accusing it of political repression, restrictions on dissent, and refusal to engage in what it considers a credible national dialogue. It further denounced alleged violations of fundamental rights, including attacks on political freedoms, targeted violence against dissenting voices, and the abandonment of civilian populations in parts of eastern Congo, particularly in Ituri and North Kivu, where armed groups continue to operate. According to the movement’s communiqué, these situations constitute serious breaches of constitutional provisions and international humanitarian law, and reflect what it calls a broader crisis of governance. “Save the DRC” also accused the government of ignoring the root causes of the ongoing crisis, including contested political legitimacy, governance failures, manipulation of judicial institutions, and the use of identity-based divisions for political control. The group further criticized recent diplomatic agreements between Kinshasa and international partners, including arrangements with the United States concerning migration and other bilateral cooperation frameworks, arguing that such initiatives do not address underlying domestic instability. Reaffirming its political position, the movement declared its opposition to any constitutional revision process, invoking Article 64 of the Constitution as justification for what it describes as a “defense of constitutional order.” The conclave also reportedly examined regional and international mediation efforts, including past agreements such as the Sun City framework, arguing that current peace initiatives have failed to adequately address structural causes of conflict. While operating in exile, the movement says it intends to continue mobilizing political support internationally, positioning itself as part of a broader opposition front challenging the current political order in Kinshasa.