DRC: FCC “Exists Only on Paper and Social Media,” Says André Mbata After Kabila’s Death Sentence
The political storm in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to grow after the High Military Court sentenced former President Joseph Kabila to death on September 30, 2025. The verdict has ignited heated reactions across the political spectrum, particularly between the Common Front for Congo (FCC) and the ruling coalition, the Sacred Union of the Nation (USN).
FCC’s Response: “Return of Dictatorship”
Following the announcement, the FCC strongly condemned the ruling, calling it evidence of a “restoration of dictatorship” and “instrumentalized justice.” The platform, still led morally by Joseph Kabila, claims the verdict was politically motivated and aimed at silencing a key rival of President Félix Tshisekedi.
Read more on the role of the High Military Court in similar international cases.
USN Fires Back: “FCC Is Only on Paper”
The USN, through its permanent secretary and spokesperson André Mbata Betukumesu, issued a sharp statement dismissing the FCC as irrelevant:
“The FCC exists only on paper and social media. Those who presided over nearly two decades of chaotic governance, marked by assassinations, looting, and violations of human rights, have no lesson to give us about democracy or the Constitution.”
The statement also alluded to Joseph Kabila as a leader who, despite being entrusted with everything by the Congolese people, “betrayed them by becoming complicit with aggressors.”
A Hand Extended Amid Harsh Words
Interestingly, the USN insisted that it is still willing to “help the FCC resolve its internal crisis,” stressing that “this crisis has lasted far too long.”
This delicate balance of condemnation and outreach highlights the tense yet strategic calculations within Congolese politics.
A Nation at a Crossroads
The sentencing of Joseph Kabila, who ruled the DRC from 2001 to 2019, marks an unprecedented moment in the country’s judicial and political history. While the FCC views it as political persecution, the ruling coalition sees it as a turning point to close a painful chapter of the past.
The coming weeks will determine whether this verdict strengthens the rule of law in the DRC—or deepens divisions within its fragile democracy.
✍️ Author: Mangwa
📖 Read more: MecaMediaAfrica.com
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