Back Joseph Kabila Afrikaans Joseph Kabila AMI Joseph Kabila AN جوزيف كابيلا Arabic جوزيف كابيلا ARZ Жазеф Кабіла Byelorussian Жозеф Кабила Bulgarian Joseph Kabila Breton Joseph Kabila Catalan Joseph Kabila Czech
Joseph Kabila | |
|---|---|
 Kabila in 2016 | |
| 4th President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| In office 17 January 2001 – 24 January 2019 Acting: 17 January 2001 – 26 January 2001 | |
| Prime Minister | |
| Vice President (2003–2006) | |
| Preceded by | Laurent-Désiré Kabila |
| Succeeded by | Félix Tshisekedi |
| Senator for life | |
| Assumed office 15 March 2019 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Kabila Kabange 4 June 1971 Fizi, Congo-Léopoldville (now South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo) |
| Political party | People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy |
| Spouse | |
| Alma mater | Makerere University People's Liberation Army National Defense University University of Johannesburg |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  DR Congo |
| Branch/service | Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Rank | Major-general |
Joseph Kabila Kabange (/kæˈbiːlə/ kab-EE-lə, French: [ʒozɛf kabila]; born 4 June 1971) is a Congolese politician and military officer who was the fourth President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2001 to 2019. He took office ten days[1] after the assassination of his father, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila in the context of the Second Congo War. He was allowed to remain in power after the 2003 Pretoria Accord ended the war as the president of the country's new transitional government. He was elected as president in 2006 and re-elected in 2011 for a second term.[2] Since stepping down after the 2018 election, Kabila, as a former president, serves as a senator for life.[3][4] Kabila was the country's second-longest serving president.[5]
Kabila is credited with ending the Second Congo War and restoring relative stability to most of the country,[5][6] though conflict continued in eastern DR Congo against rebel forces supported by the neighboring Rwanda and Uganda. He encouraged foreign investment in the mining industry and improved the infrastructure. The size of the country's economy increased by five times during his presidency.[6] But economic growth slowed down in the later years,[7] and it had been very unequal. The majority of DR Congo's population still lived below the international poverty line by the time he left office.[5][6] He helped organize electoral institutions and in 2006 presided over the DRC's first multi-party election in decades,[6] though both that and his victory in 2011 faced accusations of electoral fraud and saw protests.[8] He led an authoritarian government that was known for embezzlement, corruption, and human rights violations, including security forces killing protestors.[5][9] The United States has sanctioned associates of Kabila for corruption and undermining democracy.[6][9]
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.[10] Kabila's popularity declined and he also faced growing pressure from the international community to give up power.[7][11] An agreement was reached with the influential Catholic Church hierarchy to appoint a new government and prepare to hold elections.[7] In August 2018, Kabila announced that he would step down and not seek a third term in the December 2018 general election.[12] 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.[13][14]
- ^ "Joseph Kabila Takes Power In Congo". CBS News. 23 January 2001. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
- ^ CIA World Leaders, Democratic Republic of the Congo Archived 6 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Powell, Anita (24 January 2019). DR Congo Celebrates New President, Keeps Sharp Eye on Ex Archived 25 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine. VOA News. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- ^ Bujakera, Stanis (15 March 2019). Congo ex-leader Kabila's coalition wins decisive senate majority Archived 21 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Reuters. Accessed 21 March 2019.
- ^ a b c d "DRC: What is Joseph Kabila's legacy after 18 years in power?". Al Jazeera. 25 December 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Freytas-Tamura, Kimiko de (14 December 2018). "He's Handing Over the Presidency but Not Necessarily His Power". New York Times. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Freytas-Tamura, Kimiko de (23 July 2017). "When Will Kabila Go? Congolese Leader Long Overstays His Welcome". New York Times. Archived from the original on 4 September 2024.
- ^ Jourdier, Marc (20 December 2016). "Joseph Kabila: DR Congo's young, enigmatic leader". Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
NYT2016-12was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Will Kabila go?". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ Chan, Sewell (8 August 2018). "Joseph Kabila, Congo Strongman, Will Step Down After 17 Years in Power". New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 December 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- ^ "Joseph Kabila says he will not run again in Congo". The Economist. 8 August 2018. Archived from the original on 9 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ "Congo voting data reveal huge fraud in poll to replace Kabila". Financial Times. 15 January 2019. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ Berwouts, Kris; Reyntjens, Filip (19 April 2019). "The Democratic Republic of Congo: The Great Electoral Robbery (and how and why Kabila got away with it)". Egmont Institute. JSTOR resrep21375.