View source for Joseph Kabila

{{Short description|President of the DR Congo from 2001 to 2019}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{Family name hatnote|Kabila|Kabange|lang=Congolese}}
{{pp-semi-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Joseph Kabila
| order               = 4th
| image               = Joseph Kabila April 2016.jpg
| caption             = Kabila in 2016
| office              = President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
| term_start          = 17 January 2001
| term_end            = {{ubl| 24 January 2019| {{small|[[Acting (law)|Acting]]: 17 January 2001 – 26 January 2001}} }}
| predecessor         = [[Laurent-Désiré Kabila]]
| primeminister       = {{List collapsed|title=''See list''|[[Antoine Gizenga]]|[[Adolphe Muzito]]|[[Louis Alphonse Koyagialo]] (acting)|[[Matata Ponyo Mapon]]|[[Samy Badibanga]]|[[Bruno Tshibala]]}}
| successor           = [[Félix Tshisekedi]]
| 1blankname          = {{ubl| [[Vice-Presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|Vice President]] | {{small|(2003–2006)}} }}
| 1namedata           = {{List collapsed|title=''See list''|[[Azarias Ruberwa]]|[[Arthur Z'ahidi Ngoma]]|[[Abdoulaye Yerodia Ndombasi]]|[[Jean-Pierre Bemba]]}}
| office2             = [[Senator for life]]
| term_start2         = 15 March 2019
| party               = [[People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy]]
| birth_name          = Joseph Kabila Kabange
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1971|6|4}}
| birth_place         = {{ubl| Hewa Bora II, [[Maquis of Fizi]] | {{small|(now [[South Kivu]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]])}} }}
| death_date          = 
| death_place         =  
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Olive Lembe di Sita]]|2006}}
| alma_mater          = {{ubl| [[Makerere University]] | [[PLA National Defence University|People's Liberation Army National Defense University]] | [[University of Johannesburg]] }}
| allegiance          = {{flag|DR Congo}}
| branch              = [[Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]]
| rank                = Major-general
}}
'''Joseph Kabila Kabange''' ({{IPAc-en|k|æ|ˈ|b|iː|l|ə}} {{respell|kab|EE|lə}}, {{IPA|fr|ʒozɛf kabila|lang}}; born 4 June 1971) is a Congolese politician and former military officer who served as the fourth [[President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] from 2001 to 2019. He took office ten days<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/joseph-kabila-takes-power-in-congo/|title=Joseph Kabila Takes Power In Congo|website=[[CBS News]]|date=23 January 2001 |access-date=31 July 2016|archive-date=19 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819200007/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/joseph-kabila-takes-power-in-congo/|url-status=live}}</ref> after the assassination of his father, President [[Laurent-Désiré Kabila]] in the context of the [[Second Congo War]]. He founded the [[People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy]] (PPRD) in 2002 and was allowed to remain in power after the 2003 [[Pretoria Accord]] ended the war as the president of the country's new [[Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|transitional government]]. He was elected as president in [[2006 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election|2006]] and re-elected in [[2011 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election|2011]] for a second term.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-c/congo-democratic-republic-of-the.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506023504/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-c/congo-democratic-republic-of-the.html|url-status=dead|title=Congo, Democratic Republic of the — Central Intelligence Agency|archivedate=6 May 2009|website=www.cia.gov}}</ref> Since stepping down after the [[2018 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election|2018 election]], Kabila, as a former president, serves as a [[senator for life]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-24 |title=DR Congo Celebrates New President, Keeps Sharp Eye on Ex |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/dr-congo-celebrates-new-president-keeps-sharp-eye-on-old-one/4757222.html |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}</ref><ref name="reuters">{{Cite news |last=Bujakera |first=Stanis |date=2019-03-16 |title=Congo ex-leader Kabila's coalition wins decisive senate majority |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/congo-ex-leader-kabilas-coalition-wins-decisive-senate-majority-idUSKCN1QW28R/ |access-date=2025-08-02 |work=Reuters |language=en-GB}}</ref> Kabila was the country's second-longest serving president.<ref name="AJ2018-12">{{Cite web |title=DRC: What is Joseph Kabila's legacy after 18 years in power? |work=[[Al Jazeera]] |date=25 December 2018 |access-date=2 February 2025 |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/25/drc-what-is-joseph-kabilas-legacy-after-18-years-in-power }}</ref>

Kabila is credited with ending the Second Congo War and restoring relative stability to most of the country,<ref name="AJ2018-12" /><ref name="NYT2018-12">{{Cite news |last=de Freytas-Tamura |first=Kimiko |title=He's Handing Over the Presidency but Not Necessarily His Power |date=14 December 2018 |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/world/africa/kabila-congo-elections.html |archive-date=30 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530044153/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/world/africa/kabila-congo-elections.html }}</ref> though [[Ituri conflict#2008–2017: FRPI insurgency|conflict continued in eastern DR Congo]] against rebel forces supported by neighboring [[Rwanda]] and [[Uganda]]. He encouraged foreign investment in the mining industry and improved the infrastructure. The size of the [[Economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|country's economy]] increased by five times during his presidency.<ref name="NYT2018-12" /> But economic growth slowed down in the later years,<ref name="NYT2017-7">{{Cite news |last=de Freytas-Tamura |first=Kimiko |title=When Will Kabila Go? Congolese Leader Long Overstays His Welcome|date=23 July 2017 |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/23/world/africa/congo-joseph-kabila-elections.html |archive-date=4 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240904021458/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/23/world/africa/congo-joseph-kabila-elections.html }}</ref> and it had been very unequal. The majority of DR Congo's population still lived below the [[Poverty threshold|international poverty line]] by the time he left office.<ref name="AJ2018-12" /><ref name="NYT2018-12" /> He helped organize electoral institutions and in 2006 presided over the DRC's first multi-party election in decades,<ref name="NYT2018-12" /> though both that and his victory in 2011 faced accusations of electoral fraud and saw protests.<ref name="YahooNews2016-12">{{Cite web |last=Jourdier |first=Marc |title=Joseph Kabila: DR Congo's young, enigmatic leader |date=20 December 2016 |access-date=2 February 2025 |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/joseph-kabila-dr-congos-young-enigmatic-leader-143831497.html }}</ref> He led an [[Authoritarianism|authoritarian]] government that was known for embezzlement, corruption, and human rights violations, including security forces killing protestors.<ref name="AJ2018-12" /><ref name="NYT2016-12" /> The United States has sanctioned associates of Kabila for corruption and undermining democracy.<ref name="NYT2018-12" /><ref name="NYT2016-12" />

Kabila's term was due to expire on 20 December 2016, according to the terms of the constitution adopted in 2006. Officials suggested that elections would be held in November 2016, but on 29 September 2016, the nation's electoral authority announced that the election would not be held until early 2018. Talk focused on the need for a census before holding elections.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21679750-war-weary-citizens-are-scared-joseph-kabila-may-not-retire-gracefully-will?zid=309&ah=80dcf288b8561b012f603b9fd9577f0e|title=Will Kabila go?|newspaper=The Economist|issn=0013-0613|access-date=2016-04-15|archive-date=23 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423222925/http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21679750-war-weary-citizens-are-scared-joseph-kabila-may-not-retire-gracefully-will?zid=309&ah=80dcf288b8561b012f603b9fd9577f0e|url-status=live}}</ref> Kabila's popularity declined and he also faced growing pressure from the international community to give up power.<ref name="NYT2017-7" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Chan |first=Sewell |title=Joseph Kabila, Congo Strongman, Will Step Down After 17 Years in Power |date=8 August 2018 |access-date=2 February 2025 |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/world/africa/joseph-kabila-congo.html |archive-date=16 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216103123/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/world/africa/joseph-kabila-congo.html }}</ref> An agreement was reached with the influential [[Episcopal Conference of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|Catholic Church hierarchy]] to appoint a new government and prepare to hold elections.<ref name="NYT2017-7" /> In August 2018, Kabila announced that he would step down and not seek a third term in the December 2018 general election.<ref name="Economist1">{{cite news |title=Joseph Kabila says he will not run again in Congo |url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2018/08/08/joseph-kabila-says-he-will-not-run-again-in-congo |access-date=8 August 2018 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=8 August 2018 |archive-date=9 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809090728/https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2018/08/08/joseph-kabila-says-he-will-not-run-again-in-congo |url-status=live }}</ref> Kabila was succeeded by [[Félix Tshisekedi]] in the country's first [[peaceful transition of power]] since independence. Independent observers concluded that Tshisikedi lost heavily to another candidate, [[Martin Fayulu]], and that Kabila had fixed the official result for the candidate most likely to be most helpful to him in the latter's post-presidency period.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.ft.com/content/2b97f6e6-189d-11e9-b93e-f4351a53f1c3 | title=Congo voting data reveal huge fraud in poll to replace Kabila | newspaper=Financial Times | date=15 January 2019 | access-date=31 March 2023 | archive-date=31 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331203406/https://www.ft.com/content/2b97f6e6-189d-11e9-b93e-f4351a53f1c3 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Berwouts |first1=Kris |last2=Reyntjens |first2=Filip |title=The Democratic Republic of Congo: The Great Electoral Robbery (and how and why Kabila got away with it) |journal=[[Egmont Institute]] |date=19 April 2019 |jstor=resrep21375 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep21375 }}</ref>

==Early life and education (1971–1996)==
Joseph Kabila Kabange and his twin sister [[Jaynet Kabila]] were born on 4 June 1971. The twins were born in Hewa Bora II, a village in the [[Maquis of Fizi]], in the present-day [[South Kivu|South Kivu Province]], in eastern DRC. Rumors have abounded that Kabila was actually born in [[Tanzania]], which would make him a citizen of that country.<ref name="Gates">{{cite book|last1=Gates|first1=Henry Louis|last2=Akyeampong|first2=Emmanuel|last3=Niven|first3=Steven|title=Dictionary of African Biography, Volume 2|date=2012|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0195382075|pages=246–50|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=39JMAgAAQBAJ&q=kabila&pg=RA2-PA246|access-date=4 April 2016|archive-date=27 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227183421/https://books.google.com/books?id=39JMAgAAQBAJ&q=kabila&pg=RA2-PA246|url-status=live}}</ref> He is the son of long time rebel, former AFDL leader and president of the DRC [[Laurent-Désiré Kabila]] and Sifa Mahanya.<ref name="Stearns 2011 p.304">{{cite book |last=Stearns |first=Jason |title=Dancing in the glory of monsters : the collapse of the Congo and the great war of Africa |title-link=Dancing in the Glory of Monsters: The Collapse of the Congo and the Great War of Africa |publisher=PublicAffairs |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-61039-107-8 |location=New York |page=310 |oclc=657595549}}</ref>

Kabila's childhood coincided with the low point of his father's political and military career. He was raised in relative remoteness, with few records of his early days. Kabila attended a primary school organized by his father's rebel forces, before moving to Tanzania where he completed primary and secondary school. Due to his father's status as an enemy of Zairean strongman [[Mobutu Sese Seko]], Kabila posed as a Tanzanian in his school years to avoid detection by Zairean intelligence agents.<ref name= Gates />

==Guerrilla and army years (1996–2001)==
Following high school, Kabila followed a military curriculum in [[Tanzania]], then at [[Makerere University]] in Uganda.<ref name= Gates /> In October 1996, Laurent-Désiré Kabila launched the [[First Congo War|campaign in Zaire to oust the Mobutu regime]] with his newly formed army, the [[Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire]] (AFDL). Joseph Kabila became the commander of an AFDL unit that included "[[kadogos]]" (child soldiers) and likely played a key role in major battles on the road to Kinshasa, but his exact whereabouts during the war have been difficult to establish.<ref name= Gates /> Joseph Kabila appears to have been present at the liberation of [[Kisangani]] where media reports identified him as commander of the rebel force that took the city after four days of intense fighting.<ref name="McKinley">{{cite news|last1=McKinley|first1=James|title=A Fallen City, Seeking Peace, Greets Rebels|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/17/world/a-fallen-city-seeking-peace-greets-rebels.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=17 March 1997|access-date=4 April 2016|archive-date=17 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417125448/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/17/world/a-fallen-city-seeking-peace-greets-rebels.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the AFDL's victory, and Laurent-Désiré Kabila's rise to the presidency, Joseph Kabila went on to get further training at the [[PLA National Defense University]], in Beijing, China.

When he returned from China, Kabila was awarded the rank of major-general, and appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the [[Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congolese Armed Forces]] (FAC), in 1998. He was later, in 2000, appointed Chief of Staff of the [[Land Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|Land Forces]], a position he held until the elder President Kabila's assassination in January 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.presidentrdc.cd/biographie.html |title=Bref Apercu Biographique du Président de la République |publisher=RDCongo – Site Officiel du Président de la République |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210034616/http://www.presidentrdc.cd/biographie.html |archive-date=10 February 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> As chief of staff, he was one of the main military leaders in charge of government troops during the time of the [[Second Congo War]] (1998–2003).<ref name= Gates />

==Peace talks and transitional government (2001–2006)==
[[Image:Kabila mbeki bush kagame.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Kabila in 2002, with [[Thabo Mbeki]], [[George W. Bush]], and [[Paul Kagame]]]]
Joseph Kabila rose to the presidency on 26 January 2001 after the [[assassination of Laurent-Désiré Kabila]], becoming the world's first head of government born in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sadcgovernment.com/v/presidency-of-the-republic-of-congo-387948|title=Presidency of Democratic Republic of Congo|access-date=30 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624103824/http://sadcgovernment.com/v/presidency-of-the-republic-of-congo-387948|archive-date=24 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Aged 29, he was considered young and inexperienced, and reportedly did not want to become the president, but was the only candidate that his father's advisers could agree on.<ref name="NYT2016-12">{{Cite news |last=Gettleman |first=Jeffrey |title=As President Joseph Kabila Digs In, Tensions Rise in Congo |date=17 December 2016 |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/17/world/africa/congo-joseph-kabila-corruption.html |archive-date=10 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910034249/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/17/world/africa/congo-joseph-kabila-corruption.html }}</ref> In his inauguration speech, Joseph Kabila spoke about the need to "restore peace and national communion," restart the negotiations that stalled under his predecessor, return to democracy, and to liberalize the economy.{{sfn|Reyntjens|2009|page=252–254}}

[[File:Joseph kabila.jpg|thumb|180px|Kabila in 2003]]
[[File:First train in Kindu, DRC.jpg|thumb|180px|The ceremonial first train on the [[Rail transport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo|newly reconstructed Lubumbashi–Kindu railway]] in 2004, bearing a portrait of Kabila]]
He subsequently attempted to end the ongoing civil war by negotiating peace agreements with rebel groups backed by Rwanda and Uganda, the same regional armies who had brought Laurent-Désiré Kabila's rebel group to power three years before. The process began in 2001 and continued despite difficulties during the talks, including the resumption of fighting. Under international pressure from South African president [[Thabo Mbeki]] and UN special envoy [[Moustapha Niasse]], the final peace settlement was based on the [[Sun City Agreement|2002 agreement]] signed at the Inter-Congolese Dialogue in [[Sun City, South Africa]], which nominally ended the [[Second Congo War]]. It maintained Joseph Kabila as the president and head of state of the DRC. A [[Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|transitional government]] was set up under him, including the leaders of the country's two main rebel groups, the [[Movement for the Liberation of the Congo|MLC]] and [[Rally for Congolese Democracy–Goma|RCD–Goma]], as [[Vice Presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|vice-presidents]]. The two other vice-presidents were representatives of the civilian opposition and the government respectively. It also set up the basis for the legislature and the armed forces, and elections were to be held within two years, which could be extended by six months.{{sfn|Reyntjens|2009|pages=255–261}}

The implementation of the peace agreement took place with international monitoring, including with the presence of the largest United Nations [[MONUSCO|peacekeeping mission]] in its history. The first cabinet was set up in June 2003, followed by the National Assembly and the Senate in the next month.{{sfn|Reyntjens|2009|pages=261–263}} The [[Independent National Electoral Commission (Democratic Republic of the Congo)|Independent Electoral Commission]] (CEI) was created in 2004, and also that year the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo nationality law|Nationality Act]] was passed to address previous disputes regarding the issue.{{sfn|Reyntjens|2009|page=268}} The parliament began working on the [[Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|constitution]] in February 2005, and passed a draft in May 2005, in the presence of both Kabila and Thabo Mbeki. It created an independent judiciary and a [[semi-presidential republic|semi-presidential system]] where a prime minister is appointed by the president but must have the support of the parliamentary majority.{{sfn|Reyntjens|2009|pages=269–270}}

When the slow process of passing an electoral law led to talks of elections being postponed by six months in early 2005, there was a brief split within the government with the MLC, which also involved delays in appointments to government offices, though it was remedied after Kabila spoke to Vice President [[Jean-Pierre Bemba]]. Meanwhile, the historic opposition party [[Union for Democracy and Social Progress|UPDS]] called for protests, and some newspapers in Kinshasa spoke of a "[[Orange Revolution|Ukrainian scenario]]", but planned demonstrations by UPDS were blocked by police.{{sfn|Reyntjens|2009|pages=268–269}} Between June and December 2005, the electoral commission was able to register 25 million voters across the DRC despite the poor state of the infrastructure. This was in preparation for the country's first free electoral expression since [[1965 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election|1965]], the [[2005 Democratic Republic of the Congo constitutional referendum|constitutional referendum]], held at the end of the year. The constitution was approved with 84 percent of the vote, and 62 percent voter turnout, with the highest support being in the eastern DRC. This was despite a boycott by over 40 political parties. Kabila promulgated the constitution in February 2006.{{sfn|Reyntjens|2009|pages=270–271}}

The creation of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) by integrating government troops and rebel groups proceeded more slowly. Kabila established a separate "military household" outside of the FARDC general staff, which had been founded in 2003, and his own [[Republican Guard (Democratic Republic of the Congo)|presidential guard]] that received better pay and equipment than the regular army. The former rebel leaders likewise continued to command their own forces outside of the FARDC chain of command and in practice controlled their original territory. In May 2005 a plan was adopted to disarm, retrain, and reorganize former rebel groups into a number of integrated brigades, but its implementation was not completed before 2006 and the army remained in a state of disorder.{{sfn|Reyntjens|2009|pages=261–267}} 

On 28 March 2004, an apparent coup attempt or mutiny around the capital [[Kinshasa]], allegedly by members of the former guard of former president [[Mobutu Sese Seko]] (who had been ousted by Kabila's father in 1997 and died in the same year), failed.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3577197.stm "Arrests after DR Congo 'coup bid'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203154021/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3577197.stm |date=3 December 2017 }}, BBC, 29 March 2004.</ref> On 11 June 2004, [[2004 Democratic Republic of the Congo coup attempt|coup plotters]] led by Major [[Eric Lenge]] allegedly attempted to take power and announced on state radio that the transitional government was suspended, but were defeated by loyalist troops.<ref>[http://www.voanews.com/burmese/archive/2004-06/a-2004-06-11-1-1.cfm "Congo National Troops Thwart Coup Attempt"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210061202/http://www.voanews.com/burmese/archive/2004-06/a-2004-06-11-1-1.cfm |date=10 December 2007 }}, VOA News, 11 June 2004.</ref><ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=41619&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=DRC "Coup attempt foiled in Kinshasa"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061123131912/http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=41619&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=DRC |date=23 November 2006 }}, IRIN, 11 June 2004.</ref>

In October 2004 Kabila visited the eastern part of the DRC for the first time since the end of the war. The president's visit to [[Kisangani]], which had been occupied by rebel and foreign troops, was portrayed as a demonstration of the restoration of stability and unity to the country. However, the presidential guard disarmed the former rebels there, who were awaiting integration into the FARDC, and moved them into camps outside of the city. Western observers also saw this trip as signalling the start of his election campaign.<ref name="Economist2004-10">{{Cite news |title=President Kabila goes east |date=21 October 2004 |access-date=5 February 2005 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2004/10/21/president-kabila-goes-east |archive-date=25 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025233216/https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2004/10/21/president-kabila-goes-east }}</ref> Kabila's campaign platform included a reconstruction plan known as ''Cinq Chantiers'' (Five Construction Sites), consisting of infrastructure, job creation, education, water and electricity, and health.{{sfn|Landry|2018|page=4}}

==First presidential term (2006–2011)==
[[File:Joseph Kabila with George Bush October 26, 2007.jpg|thumb|Kabila with George W. Bush in 2007]]
[[File:KagameKabila2009.jpg|thumb|Kabila with Paul Kagame at the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo–Rwanda border|border]] near [[Goma]] in 2009]]
Kabila ran for the presidency as an independent, though the [[Alliance of the Presidential Majority]] was formed to support his campaign, which included his [[People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy]] (PPRD) and about 30 other parties. During the election campaign Kabila was attacked by his opposition with the claim of him being Rwandan instead of Congolese, in a country where many had a negative view of Rwanda, and being described as the candidate that represented foreign powers.{{sfn|Reyntjens|2009|pages=272–273}} Kabila was still seen as the frontrunner in the election by Western observers, due to the political opposition being divided and lacking resources, while the former rebel leaders were widely hated.<ref name="Economist2004-10" />

A [[2006 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election|presidential election]] was held on 30 July 2006, having been delayed from an earlier date in June.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=53073&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=DRC "Elections to be held on 30 July, polls body says"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061123131903/http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=53073&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=DRC |date=23 November 2006 }}, IRIN, 1 May 2006.</ref> The new constitution lowered the minimum age of presidential candidates from 35 to 30; Kabila turned 35 shortly before the election. In March 2006, he registered as a candidate.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4840388.stm "DR Congo poll deadline extended"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203154027/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4840388.stm |date=3 December 2017 }}, BBC, 24 March 2006.</ref> Although the new constitution stipulates that a debate be held between the two remaining candidates for the presidency, no debates took place and many declared this unconstitutional.

According to widely disputed provisional results announced on 20 August, Kabila won 45% of the vote; his main opponent, vice-president and former rebel leader [[Jean-Pierre Bemba]], won 20%. The irregularities surrounding the elections results prompted a run-off vote between Kabila and Bemba which was held on 29 October.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55218&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=DRC "Frontrunners need alliances for 2nd round of presidential polls"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061120183252/http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55218&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=DRC |date=20 November 2006 }}, IRIN, 22 August 2006.</ref> On 15 November, the electoral commission announced the official results and Kabila was declared the winner, with 58.05% of the vote.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6151598.stm "Kabila named DR Congo poll winner"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203154029/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6151598.stm |date=3 December 2017 }}, BBC News, 15 November 2006.</ref> These results were confirmed by the Supreme Court on 27 November 2006, and Kabila was inaugurated on 6 December 2006 as the country's newly elected president.<ref>[http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L06857070.htm "Joseph Kabila sworn in as Congo's elected president"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206220222/http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L06857070.htm |date=6 December 2006 }}, Reuters, 6 December 2006.</ref> Both international and national observers stated that the election had been generally free and fair, while noting some irregularities.{{sfn|Reyntjens|2009|pages=273}} He named [[Antoine Gizenga]], who placed third in the first round of the presidential election (and then backed Kabila in the second round) as prime minister on 30 December.<ref>Joe Bavier, [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L30447160.htm "Congo names opposition veteran, 81, prime minister"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080114024942/http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L30447160.htm |date=14 January 2008 }}, Reuters, 30 December 2006.</ref> 

In 2006, Kabila responded to evidence of widespread sex crimes committed by the Congolese military by describing the acts as "simply unforgivable". He pointed out that 300 soldiers had been convicted of sex crimes, although he added that this was not enough.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Jeff|last=Koinange|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/05/31/congo.rape/index.html|access-date=23 October 2018|title=Congo president on military rapes: 'Unforgivable'|work=CNN|date=1 June 2006|archive-date=14 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114191821/http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/05/31/congo.rape/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

One of the major economic projects of his first presidency, continuing into the second, was the [[Sicomines]] (''Sino-Congolais des Mines'') "resources-for-infrastructure" agreement with [[China]]. The deal was reportedly negotiated after Kabila's government was unable to secure funding for his ''Cinq Chantiers'' program from Western countries. The DRC signed a [[memorandum of understanding]] in September 2007 that granted a consortium owned by the [[China Railway Engineering Corporation]] the majority of shares in a joint venture called Sicomines, while the DRC's [[Gécamines]] owned the rest.{{sfn|Landry|2018|pages=9–10}} Sicomines would be given mining licenses in the [[Katanga Province]], with CREC agreeing to build of infrastructure in exchange, and to secure US$6.5 billion from Chinese banks to finance it.{{sfn|Landry|2018|page=4}} The agreement marked the first time that China became a major partner of the DRC{{sfn|Landry|2018|page=9}} and was the largest deal of its kind in the Congo's history.<ref name="Bloomberg2021">{{Cite web |last1=Kavanagh |first1=Michael J. |last2=Clowes |first2=William |title=Africa's Biggest Data Leak Reveals China Money Role in Kabila's Congo Looting |date=28 November 2021 |access-date=5 February 2025 |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-11-28/africa-s-biggest-data-leak-reveals-china-money-role-in-kabila-s-congo-looting }}</ref>

It was considered controversial because the DRC government guaranteed the loans, assuming the risk instead of the Chinese signatories. After the [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]] and civil society groups became concerned about the DRC's ability to repay the loans, negotiations continued and the final deal was signed in 2009. They removed the DRC's garauntee for the mining investment but kept it for the infrastructure investment, which was reduced to US$3 billion. Sicomines was exempt from paying taxes in the DRC until the loans had been repaid.{{sfn|Landry|2018|pages=10–12}} Kabila was criticized by the Congolese opposition and civil society groups for the deal, including for the lack of transparency during negotiations, which were done mostly by one of Kabila's advisors, and for the terms disproportionately favoring China. His cabinet members argued that the DRC, while being in a weaker position, still benefited from the investments, and said that the government was pressured to bring about quick results for its infrastructure development promises.{{sfn|Landry|2018|pages=15–18}} Supporters of the Sicomines agreement described it as a "win-win" deal for China and the DRC.<ref name="Bloomberg2021" />

==Second presidential term (2011–2016)==
[[File:Début timide de la Campagne électorale Kinshasa -IMG 6507 (6325280339).jpg|thumb|220px|left|2011 election billboard]]
In December 2011, Kabila was re-elected for a second term as president. After the results were announced on 9 December, there was violent unrest in Kinshasa and [[Mbuji-Mayi]], where official tallies showed that a strong majority had voted for the opposition candidate [[Étienne Tshisekedi]].<ref>{{cite news|title=DR Congo election: Questions hang over Kabila's victory|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16128729|work=BBC News|date=10 December 2011|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=4 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104213955/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16128729|url-status=live}}</ref> Official observers from the [[Carter Center]] reported that returns from almost 2,000 polling stations in areas where support for Tshisekedi was strong had been lost and not included in the official results. They described the election as lacking credibility.<ref>{{cite news|title=Carter Center: DRC Presidential Election Results Lack Credibility (press release)|url=http://www.cartercenter.org/news/pr/drc-121011.html|newspaper=Carter Center|date=10 December 2011|access-date=20 December 2011|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201080758/https://www.cartercenter.org/news/pr/drc-121011.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 20 December, Kabila was sworn in for a second term, promising to invest in [[infrastructure]] and public services. However, Tshisekedi maintained that the result of the election was illegitimate and said that he intended also to "swear himself in" as president.<ref>{{cite news|title=DR Congo President Joseph Kabila begins second term|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16261907|work=BBC News|date=20 December 2011|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=1 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101095048/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16261907|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2012, [[Catholicism|Catholic]] bishops in DR Congo also condemned the elections, complaining of "treachery, lies and terror", and calling on the election commission to correct "serious errors".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16540780 | work=BBC News | title=Catholic bishops condemn DR Congo presidential poll | date=13 January 2012 | access-date=20 June 2018 | archive-date=1 January 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101095051/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16540780 | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 17 January 2015, Congo's parliament passed an electoral law requiring a census before the next elections. On 19 January [[2015 Congolese protests|protests led by students at the University of Kinshasa broke out]]. The protests began following the announcement of a proposed law that would allow Kabila to remain in power until a national census could be conducted (elections had been planned for [[2016 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election|2016]]).<ref name="Reuters1">{{cite web|last=Ross|first=Aaron|date=21 January 2015|title=UPDATE 2-Congo protests enter third day, rights group says 42 dead|url=https://af.reuters.com/article/drcNews/idAFL6N0V01NX20150121?sp=true|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121192605/http://af.reuters.com/article/drcNews/idAFL6N0V01NX20150121?sp=true|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 January 2015|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=21 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="BBC1">{{cite web|last=Jullien|first=Maud|date=21 January 2015|title=DR Congo unrest: Catholic church backs protests|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30913739|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=21 January 2015|archive-date=21 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121215530/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30913739|url-status=live}}</ref> By Wednesday 21 January clashes between police and protesters had claimed at least 42 lives, although the government claimed only 15 people had been killed.<ref name="Reuters1" />

The Senate responded to protests by striking the census requirement from its law. [[Moïse Katumbi]] announced in October 2015 that he would leave the ruling party due to disagreements over the scheduled election.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21643398-president-kabila-must-decide-whether-extend-his-rule-beyond-its-constitutional?zid=309&ah=80dcf288b8561b012f603b9fd9577f0e|title=To Con or Go?|newspaper=The Economist|issn=0013-0613|access-date=2016-04-15|archive-date=3 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203224627/https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21643398-president-kabila-must-decide-whether-extend-his-rule-beyond-its-constitutional?zid=309&ah=80dcf288b8561b012f603b9fd9577f0e|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21671178-joseph-kabila-may-just-have-acquired-powerful-new-rival-presidents-old-ally-leaves?zid=309&ah=80dcf288b8561b012f603b9fd9577f0e|title=An old ally of Joseph Kabila leaves the ruling party|newspaper=The Economist|issn=0013-0613|access-date=2016-04-15|archive-date=3 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203224639/https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21671178-joseph-kabila-may-just-have-acquired-powerful-new-rival-presidents-old-ally-leaves?zid=309&ah=80dcf288b8561b012f603b9fd9577f0e|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Secretary Clinton Meets With Congolese President Kabila and Rwandan President Kagame (8023168313).jpg|thumb|220px|Trilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] and Rwandan President [[Paul Kagame]], September 2012]]
[[Jaynet Kabila]], the sister of Kabila, was named in the [[Panama Papers]]. Document leaks in 2016 revealed that she is a part-owner of a major Congolese television company, {{ILL|Digital Congo TV|fr}}, through offshore subsidiaries.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://qz.com/653937/africa-loses-more-money-to-illicit-financial-flows-than-it-receives-in-foreign-aid/ |title=Africa loses more money to illicit financial flows than it receives in foreign aid |author=Lily Kuo |date=4 April 2016 |work=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417060158/http://qz.com/653937/africa-loses-more-money-to-illicit-financial-flows-than-it-receives-in-foreign-aid/ |archive-date=17 April 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Kabila is vastly unpopular, partly because of the conflicts in the Congo, but also because of the widespread belief that he has enriched himself and his family while ignoring millions of poor Congolese. There have been protests against his attempts to change term limits and extend his rule. Harsh demonstrations erupted on 20 April 2016 in [[Lubumbashi]], one of Congo's biggest cities.<ref name="nyt160430">{{cite news|url=https://nytimes.com/2016/05/01/world/africa/in-congo-wars-are-small-and-chaos-is-endless.html|title=In Congo, Wars Are Small and Chaos Is Endless|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Jeffrey|last=Gettleman|date=30 April 2016|access-date=1 October 2022|archive-date=1 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001163505/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/01/world/africa/in-congo-wars-are-small-and-chaos-is-endless.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

When [[Moise Katumbi]], the former governor of [[Katanga Province]] in the Democratic Republic of Congo and now an opposition figure, announced that he was running for president in an election that was supposed to be held by the end of 2016, his house was surrounded by security forces wanting to arrest him.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nytimes.com/2016/05/06/world/africa/congo-moise-katumbi-president-joseph-kabila-election.html|title=Home of Congo Presidential Challenger Is Surrounded by Police|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Jeffrey|last=Gettleman|date=5 May 2016|access-date=1 October 2022|archive-date=1 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001163509/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/06/world/africa/congo-moise-katumbi-president-joseph-kabila-election.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Although Kabila's forces have scored an important victory against one large [[rebellion|rebel]] group, the [[March 23 Movement|M23]], in 2013, many other armed groups have splintered into dangerous movements. And by 2016 new ones had risen, like militias in the [[Nyunzu Territory|Nyunzu area]] that have killed hundreds of people.<ref name="nyt160430"/>

==Delayed election and extended presidency (2016–2019)==
[[File:Nikki Haley avec Kabila.jpg|thumb|Kabila with [[Nikki Haley]], U.S. ambassador to the UN, in 2017]]
According to the [[Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]], President Kabila should not be allowed to serve more than two terms. On 19 September 2016, massive protests rocked [[Kinshasa]] calling for him to step down as legally mandated. Seventeen people were killed.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|title=DR Congo election: 17 dead in anti-Kabila protests|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37406407|access-date=29 September 2016|work=[[BBC News]]|agency=[[BBC]]|date=19 September 2016|archive-date=16 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616023724/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37406407|url-status=live}}</ref> Elections to determine a successor to Kabila were originally scheduled to be held on 27 November 2016. On 29 September 2016, the [[Independent National Electoral Commission (Democratic Republic of the Congo)|nation's electoral authority]] announced that the election would not be held until early 2018. According to the electoral commission's vice president, the commission "hasn't called elections in 2016 because the number of voters isn't known."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Thomas|last2=Mbatha|first2=Amogelgang|title=Congo Election Body Proposes Two-Year Wait for Presidential Vote|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-29/congo-to-hold-elections-in-2018-at-earliest-electoral-body-says|access-date=29 September 2016|work=[[Bloomberg BusinessWeek]]|date=29 September 2016|ref=Bloomberg|archive-date=21 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121034926/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-29/congo-to-hold-elections-in-2018-at-earliest-electoral-body-says|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the opposition alleges that Kabila had intentionally delayed the election to remain in power.

Partially in response to the delayed election, the United States issued [[United States embargoes|sanctions]] against two members of Kabila's inner circle, [[John Numbi]] and [[Gabriel Amisi Kumba]], on 28 September. These actions were seen as a warning to President Kabila to respect his country's constitution.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Burke|first1=Jason|title=US imposes sanctions on top DRC officials after election delay|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/28/us-sanctions-drc-officials-democratic-republic-congo|access-date=1 October 2016|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=28 September 2016|archive-date=1 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001025927/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/28/us-sanctions-drc-officials-democratic-republic-congo|url-status=live}}</ref>

More demonstrations were planned to mark the passing of the end of the presidential mandate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/19/democratic-republic-congo-demonstrations-banned-police-killed-joseph-kabila-etienne-tshisekedi|title=Clashes in Kinshasa leave 50 dead, say DRC opposition groups|date=20 September 2016|work=The Guardian|first=Jason|last=Burke|access-date=1 October 2022|archive-date=2 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002220957/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/19/democratic-republic-congo-demonstrations-banned-police-killed-joseph-kabila-etienne-tshisekedi|url-status=live}}</ref> Opposition groups claim that the outcome of late elections would be civil war.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/10/democratic-republic-of-the-congo-faces-civil-war-if-president-fails-to-quit|title=Democratic Republic of the Congo 'faces civil war' if president fails to quit|first1=Ruth|last1=Maclean|first2=Jason|last2=Burke|date=10 November 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=11 November 2016|archive-date=11 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111144523/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/10/democratic-republic-of-the-congo-faces-civil-war-if-president-fails-to-quit|url-status=live}}</ref>

Maman Sidikou, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for DR Congo and head of [[MONUSCO]], said that a tipping point into uncontrollable violence could come about very quickly if the political situation is not normalised.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=55266#.WCXw_r2LSM8|title=UN News – Political polarization in DR Congo may spark 'large-scale violence,' UN envoy warns Security Council|date=11 October 2016|publisher=United Nations News Service|access-date=28 June 2017|archive-date=25 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925061356/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=55266#.WCXw_r2LSM8|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kabila's second term as president of the Democratic Republic of Congo was due to end on 20 December 2016.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/drc-president-joseph-kabila-to-stay-on-says-government-709204|title=DRC: President Joseph Kabila to stay on, says government|date=20 December 2016|work=International Business Times|access-date=1 October 2022|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225051309/https://www.ibtimes.co.in/drc-president-joseph-kabila-to-stay-on-says-government-709204|url-status=live}}</ref> A statement issued by his spokesperson on 19 December 2016, stated that Joseph Kabila would remain in post until a new president is in place following elections which will not be held until at least April 2018.<ref name="auto"/> Kabila subsequently installed a new cabinet led by [[Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|prime minister]] [[Samy Badibanga]], resulting in [[December 2016 Congolese protests|protests]] in which at least 40 people were killed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enca.com/africa/kabila-refuses-to-step-down-amid-unrest|title=Kabila refuses to step down amid unrest|work=eNCA|date=20 December 2016|access-date=1 October 2022|archive-date=20 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020133726/https://www.enca.com/africa/kabila-refuses-to-step-down-amid-unrest|url-status=live}}</ref> Under articles 75 and 76 of the [[Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Congo]], should the office of the president become vacant, the Chairman of the [[Senate (Democratic Republic of the Congo)|Senate]], presently [[Léon Kengo]] would assume the presidency in an acting capacity.

[[File:President Kabila voting in the 2018 general elections.jpg|thumb|220px|Kabila casting his ballot in the 2018 general elections]]
On 23 December, an agreement was proposed between the main opposition group and the Kabila government under which the latter agreed not to alter the constitution and to leave office before the end of 2017.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|work=Reuters|title=Congo nears deal under which Kabila to leave power by end 2017|first1=Aaron|last1=Ross|first2=Tim|last2=Cocks|date=23 December 2016|access-date=1 October 2022|language=en|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-congo-politics-idUSKBN14C0K3|archive-date=10 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210104434/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-congo-politics-idUSKBN14C0K3|url-status=live}}</ref> Under the agreement opposition leader [[Étienne Tshisekedi]] will oversee that the deal is implemented and the country's [[Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|Prime Minister]] will be appointed by the opposition.<ref name="auto1"/>

In late February 2018 the ministry of international affairs of Botswana told Kabila that it was time to go and said the "worsening humanitarian situation" in DRC is compounded by the fact that "its leader has persistently delayed holding elections, and has lost control over the security of his country".<ref>{{cite news|first=Daniel|last=Mumbere|title=Botswana has urged the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila, to step down.|url=http://www.africanews.com/2018/02/26/botswana-tells-dr-congo-s-kabila-to-step-down/|work=Africa News|date=26 February 2018|access-date=1 October 2022|language=en|archive-date=7 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807223109/http://www.africanews.com/2018/02/26/botswana-tells-dr-congo-s-kabila-to-step-down/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On December 30, 2018 the [[2018 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election|presidential election]] to determine the successor to Kabila was held. Kabila endorsed [[Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary]], his former interior minister.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46447089|title=Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary: Kabila's choice for DR Congo president|work=BBC.com|date=18 December 2018|access-date=11 January 2019|archive-date=12 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112161903/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46447089|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 10, 2019, the electoral commission announced opposition candidate [[Félix Tshisekedi]] as the winner of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/01/09/683830171/surprise-winner-of-congolese-election-is-an-opposition-leader|title=Surprise Winner Of Congolese Election Is An Opposition Leader|website=NPR.org|first1=Richard|last1=Gonzales|first2=Matthew S.|last2=Schwartz|date=9 January 2019|access-date=11 January 2019|archive-date=10 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110183540/https://www.npr.org/2019/01/09/683830171/surprise-winner-of-congolese-election-is-an-opposition-leader|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Post-presidency (2019–present) ==

Since leaving the presidency, Kabila has made [[Nsele Valley Park|Kingakati farm]] his main residence. The estate, located 50&nbsp;km east of Kinshasa, was his second home while he was still in power.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theafricareport.com/16785/life-after-power-joseph-kabila-the-gentleman-farmer/|title=Life after power: Joseph Kabila, the gentleman farmer|work=The Africa Report|first=Pierre|last=Boisselet|date=3 September 2019|access-date=1 October 2022|archive-date=22 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122123728/https://www.theafricareport.com/16785/life-after-power-joseph-kabila-the-gentleman-farmer/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2021, President Felix Tshisekedi succeeded in ousting the last remaining elements of his government who were loyal to former leader Kabila.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://chargedaffairs.org/felix-tshisekedis-newly-independent-agenda-for-the-drc-modernizer-or-strongman-2-0/|title = Felix Tshisekedi's Newly-Independent Agenda for the DRC: Modernizer or Strongman 2.0?|date = 26 May 2021|access-date = 6 June 2021|archive-date = 27 April 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220427234020/https://chargedaffairs.org/felix-tshisekedis-newly-independent-agenda-for-the-drc-modernizer-or-strongman-2-0/|url-status = dead}}</ref>

In May 2021, Tshisekedi called for a review of mining contracts signed with [[China]] by Kabila,<ref>{{cite news |title=DRC's Tshisekedi has secured his power base: now it's time to deliver |url=https://theconversation.com/drcs-tshisekedi-has-secured-his-power-base-now-its-time-to-deliver-170282 |work=[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]] |date=27 October 2021 |access-date=7 December 2021 |archive-date=7 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207205828/https://theconversation.com/drcs-tshisekedi-has-secured-his-power-base-now-its-time-to-deliver-170282 |url-status=live }}</ref> especially the Sicomines multibillion [[China–Democratic Republic of the Congo relations#Sicomines|'minerals-for-infrastructure' deal]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Congo Reviews $6.2 Billion China Mining Deal as Criticism Grows |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-28/congo-reviews-6-2-billion-china-mining-deal-as-criticism-grows |work=Bloomberg |date=28 September 2021 |access-date=7 December 2021 |archive-date=7 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207205823/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-28/congo-reviews-6-2-billion-china-mining-deal-as-criticism-grows |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=China Cash Flowed Through Congo Bank to Former President's Cronies |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-11-28/africa-s-biggest-data-leak-reveals-china-money-role-in-kabila-s-congo-looting |work=Bloomberg |date=28 November 2021 |access-date=7 December 2021 |archive-date=7 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207205825/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-11-28/africa-s-biggest-data-leak-reveals-china-money-role-in-kabila-s-congo-looting |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2025, Kabila criticised President Tshisekedi for mishandling the [[M23 campaign (2022–present)|M23 campaign]] through poor governance and accused him of seeking to become "absolute ruler of the country" by suppressing political opposition.<ref>{{cite news |title=DRC: Kabila blames Tshisekedi's leadership for rising tensions in eastern DRC |url=https://www.africanews.com/2025/02/24/drc-kabila-blames-tshisekedis-leadership-for-rising-tensions-in-eastern-drc/ |work=Africanews |date=24 February 2025 |language=en |access-date=24 February 2025}}</ref> Tshisekedi accused Kabila of supporting the M23 rebels at the [[61st Munich Security Conference|Munich Security Conference]] that same month. In early March 2025, a cabinet member in the Tshisekedi administration, Jean-Pierre Bemba, also accused Kabila of supporting M23 and the [[Congo River Alliance]], as well as the Mobondo militia in the [[western DR Congo clashes]]. The executive secretary of Kabila's party, the PPRD, denied the accusation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jean-Pierre Bemba: « C'est Joseph Kabila qui est derrière l'AFC, le M23 et les miliciens Mobondo » |trans-title=Jean-Pierre Bemba: "Joseph Kabila is behind the AFC, the M23 and the Mobondo militia" |work=[[Radio Okapi]] |date=6 March 2025 |url=https://www.radiookapi.net/2025/03/06/actualite/securite/jean-pierre-bemba-cest-joseph-kabila-qui-est-derriere-lafc-le-m23-et }}</ref> Also that month, Kabila reportedly met with Moïse Katumbi and other opposition leaders to discuss the political future of the country. He also attended the funeral of Namibian president of [[Sam Nujoma]], where he spoke to foreign leaders. In an interview in Namibia, Kabila compared the situation to the Second Congo War and called for an inclusive peace process in the M23 conflict, and for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Congolese territory.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Kasongo |first1=Ange Adihe |last2=Riley |first2=Sonia |title=Congo ex-president holds talks on political outlook amid rebellion, sources say |date=6 March 2025 |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/congo-ex-president-holds-talks-political-outlook-amid-rebellion-sources-say-2025-03-06/ }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mwiza |first=Shallon |title=DR Congo crisis: Kabila calls for removal of foreign troops |date=5 March 2025 |work=[[The New Times (Rwanda)|The New Times]] |url=https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/24581/news/africa/dr-congo-crisis-kabila-calls-for-removal-of-foreign-troops }}</ref>

In April 2025, Kabila, who went on a self-imposed exile in 2023, visited the M23-held city of [[Goma]], with an aide saying that he would "participate in peace efforts".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mwanamilongo |first=Saleh |title=Former President Kabila returns to Congo from exile and arrives in rebel-held eastern city of Goma |date=19 April 2025 |work=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://apnews.com/article/congo-goma-m23-rebels-kabila-33bdbf5714848ee5623c92aad3384eca}}</ref> In response, the Congolese government suspended Kabila's [[People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy]], citing his "overt" activism,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Congo suspends Kabila's political party over rebel 'ties' |date=20 April 2025 |work=[[Africanews]] |url=https://www.africanews.com/2025/04/20/congo-suspends-kabilas-political-party-over-rebel-ties/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=DR Congo suspends ex-President Kabila's party over alleged M23 links |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/20/dr-congo-suspends-ex-president-kabilas-party-over-alleged-m23-links |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> while the Senate voted to lift his parliamentary immunity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senators approve Kabila immunity lift |url=https://www.africanews.com/2025/05/23/senators-approve-kabila-immunity-lift/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Africanews |date=23 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

On 30 September 2025, a Congolese military court sentenced Kabila to death for treason. He was tried and convicted in absentia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Congo military court sentences former President Kabila to death for treason |url=https://apnews.com/article/joseph-kabila-treason-convicted-death-sentence-m23-rwanda-b2a21a4203fd78e68cf4fc506d56544b |access-date=30 September 2025 |work=AP NEWS |date=30 September 2025 |location=Kinshasa, DR Congo}}</ref> On 16 October, he appeared at an event in [[Nairobi]], Kenya alongside other Congolese opposition politicians.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former DR Congo president Kabila seen in Kenya weeks after being sentenced to death |url=https://www.africanews.com/2025/10/16/former-dr-congo-president-kabila-seen-in-kenya-weeks-after-being-sentenced-to-death/ |access-date=16 October 2025 |work=Afrcanews |date=16 October 2025 }}</ref>

=== Allegations of corruption and ill-gotten wealth ===
In November 2021, judicial authorities in Kinshasa launched a formal investigation into former President Kabila and his close associates, following allegations of the misappropriation of US$138 million in public funds. The inquiry was prompted by a series of revelations that raised serious concerns about the financial conduct of the former administration.<ref>{{cite news |title=DRC: Investigation opens on Joseph Kabila over $138 million embezzlement |url=https://www.africanews.com/2021/11/24/drc-investigation-opens-on-joseph-kabila-over-138-million-embezzlement/ |work=Africanews |date=24 November 2021 |language=en |access-date=7 December 2021 |archive-date=7 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207102746/https://www.africanews.com/2021/11/24/drc-investigation-opens-on-joseph-kabila-over-138-million-embezzlement/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Further scrutiny emerged through a ''[[Bloomberg News]]'' investigation, which, drawing on leaked banking records, alleged that members of Kabila’s family had received tens of millions of dollars in illicit payments from Chinese firms connected to the Sicomines mining venture. These disclosures formed part of the broader Congo Hold-Up investigation—an extensive leak comprising over 3.5 million internal documents from [[BGFIBank Group]]. The leak, initiated by the French investigative outlet ''[[Mediapart]]'' and the [[Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa]] (PPLAAF), included bank statements, emails, contracts, invoices, and corporate records, painting a troubling picture of systemic financial misconduct at the highest levels of power.<ref name="Bloomberg2021" />

==Personal life==
Kabila married [[Olive Lembe di Sita]], on 1 June 2006. The wedding ceremonies took place on 17 June 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalcongo.net/article/34716 |title=Solennel mariage religieux du président Joseph Kabil |date=17 June 2006 |access-date=17 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219135539/http://www.digitalcongo.net/article/34716 |archive-date=19 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Kabila and his wife have a daughter, born in 2001, named Sifa, after Kabila's mother, and a son born in 2008 named Laurent-Désiré Jr.<ref name="YahooNews2016-12" /> He owns property outside of Kinshasa, including 71,000 hectares of farmland,<ref name="NYT2017-7" /> and his family fully or partially owns 80 companies across almost every industry in the DRC, including in mining.<ref name="AJ2018-12" /><ref name="NYT2017-7" /> Kabila's hobbies include watching the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]], reading,<ref name="NYT2018-12" /> playing [[PlayStation 4]], and driving his motorcycles.<ref name="NYT2016-12" />

Kabila, having been raised outside the country, only spoke English and Swahili fluently when he became president, and was not fluent in either French, the DRC's official language, or Lingala, a common language in the capital Kinshasa.<ref name="YahooNews2016-12" /><ref name="NYT2017-7" />

As Kabila is an [[Anglican]]<ref name="YahooNews2016-12" /> Protestant and Lembe di Sita is Catholic, the wedding ceremonies were [[ecumenical]]; they were officiated by both the Catholic [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kinshasa|Archbishop of Kinshasa]], [[Frédéric Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi|Cardinal Frederic Etsou Bamungwabi]], and [[Pierre Marini Bodho]] – presiding bishop of the [[Church of Christ in Congo]], the umbrella church for most denominations in the Congo, known within the country simply as "The Protestant Church".

In July 2021, Joseph Kabila finished his master's degree, getting the certification from the [[University of Johannesburg]] in South Africa. He completed Master's programme in Political Science and International Relations through distance learning.<ref>{{cite news |title=DR Congo ex-President Joseph Kabila gets Master's degree |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/rest-of-africa/drc-ex-president-joseph-kabila-gets-masters-degree-3478752 |work=The East African |date=19 July 2021 |language=en |access-date=11 November 2022 |archive-date=11 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111205432/https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/rest-of-africa/drc-ex-president-joseph-kabila-gets-masters-degree-3478752 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Citations==
{{reflist|30em}}

==References==
*{{Cite web |last=Landry |first=David G. |title=The risks and rewards of Resources-for-Infrastructure deals: Lessons from the Congo's Sicomines agreement |date=May 2018 |work=China-Africa Research Initiative |publisher=[[Johns Hopkins University]] |url=https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/01911-sicomines-workingpaper-landry-v6/fd147a81df0bb6b9/full.pdf }}
* {{Cite book |last=Reyntjens |first=Filip |title=The Great African War: Congo and Regional Geopolitics, 1996–2006 |year=2009 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0-521-11128-7 }}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|d=Q57416|wikt=no|c=Category:Joseph Kabila|n=Category:Joseph Kabila|s=no|b=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|v=no}}
* [http://www.africafederation.net/Puppet_Elections_2006.htm Joseph Kabila, The Untold Story]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111217063435/http://www.france24.com/static/infographies/webdocumentary-congo-peace-rape-goma-drc-north-kivu-un-goma/index.html Rape in the DRC]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1076399.stm BBC Country Profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060720182608/http://www.presidentrdc.cd/lepresident.html Official website of the President of the DRC]
* [http://www.josephkabila-2011.com Joseph Kabila 2011 campaign site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819153753/http://www.josephkabila-2011.com/ |date=19 August 2019 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051126062136/http://www.un.int/drcongo/index.html Democratic Republic of the Congo – Permanent Mission to the United Nations]
* [http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/iwr/iwr060822_1_n.shtml DR Congo presidential candidates face off in second round] Jane's Intelligence Watch Report, 22 August 2006
* [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/04/world/africa/04kabila.html?hpw For Congo's Leader, Middling Reviews] by Jeffrey Gettleman, ''The New York Times'', 4 April 2009

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Laurent-Désiré Kabila]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]]|years=2001–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Félix Tshisekedi]]}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Célestin Kifwa]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the DRC]]|years=1998–1999}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Sylvestre Lwetcha]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo}}
{{2011 presidential election candidates, Democratic Republic of the Congo}}
{{2006 presidential election candidates, Democratic Republic of the Congo}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kabila, Joseph}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from South Kivu]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]]
[[Category:Senators for life]]
[[Category:People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy politicians]]
[[Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo military personnel]]
[[Category:People of the M23 rebellion]]
[[Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo twins]]
[[Category:Children of presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]]
[[Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo Anglicans]]
[[Category:Minister of Defence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]]
[[Category:Makerere University alumni]]
[[Category:University of Johannesburg alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Democratic Republic of the Congo politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Democratic Republic of the Congo politicians]]
[[Category:PLA National Defence University alumni]]
[[Category:People sentenced to death in absentia]]
[[Category:People convicted of treason]]
[[Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo politicians convicted of crimes]]