Don’t Whitewash Joseph Kabila’s Legacy, Thabo Mbeki Foundation Warned

The Thabo Mbeki Foundation is facing growing scrutiny after former Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Marius Fransman, cautioned the organisation against becoming a platform for Joseph Kabila to recast his image.

The warning follows the Democratic Republic of Congo’s refusal to attend a peace and security dialogue hosted by the foundation, accusing former South African president Thabo Mbeki of bias towards Rwanda and the M23 rebels.

But beneath the diplomatic fallout lies a deeper battle: how history remembers Joseph Kabila.

Kabila’s Troubled Rule

Fransman was blunt. “This is the true legacy of Kabila: a regime of bloodshed, corruption, and betrayal of the Congolese people.”

Kabila, who ruled the DRC for 18 years, presided over what many observers call one of the worst humanitarian crises since World War II. His time in office saw contested elections in 2006 and 2011, widespread human rights abuses, war crimes, and the enrichment of elites through murky mining contracts.

International watchdogs, civil society groups, and Congolese citizens alike have long accused his government of looting state resources while turning a blind eye or worse, colluding as armed groups terrorised eastern Congo.

Why Fransman’s Warning Matters

For Fransman, attempts to present Kabila as a reflective elder statesman are not just misguided, they’re dangerous. “It is not just historical revisionism, but a direct threat to truth and accountability,” he said.

South Africans watching from the sidelines may wonder why this matters here. The answer lies in the Thabo Mbeki Foundation’s Pan-African reputation. Founded on ideals of reconciliation and continental renewal, the foundation wields significant moral authority. If it inadvertently lends credibility to a figure like Kabila, critics fear it could legitimise a narrative that erases the pain of millions of Congolese.

Tshisekedi’s Break from the Past

Fransman contrasted Kabila’s era with that of current president Félix Tshisekedi, who he believes has opened the door to accountability, reform, and cooperation. While Tshisekedi’s record is far from spotless, he has positioned himself as a stabiliser, moving the country away from the authoritarian shadows of the past.

“The Congolese people are rebuilding, and their story should not be undermined by recycled propaganda,” Fransman stressed.

Social Media and Civil Society Reactions

Across Congolese and South African social media, the story has triggered heated debate. Some Congolese activists applauded Fransman’s bluntness, arguing that South Africa must not give cover to a leader they hold responsible for untold suffering. Others accused Fransman of oversimplifying the complex political realities of the DRC.

South African commentators also weighed in, with many recalling Mbeki’s history of mediation in African conflicts. While some praised his efforts at dialogue, others argued that neutrality cannot mean providing a platform for figures accused of mass human rights violations.

Memory, Power, and Peacebuilding

The warning highlights a broader challenge across Africa: how to reconcile peacebuilding with accountability. Too often, former strongmen attempt to rebrand themselves as elder statesmen, trading in their pasts for seats at the negotiating table. But memory is political and, as Fransman argues, forgetting can be deadly.

“Africa cannot afford to forget the lessons of history,” he said. “We cannot allow the victims of Kabila’s reign of terror to be silenced under the banner of false reconciliation.”

At the time of writing, the Thabo Mbeki Foundation had not responded to requests for comment.

For now, the debate rages on: should Kabila be given a platform in the name of dialogue, or must the door remain firmly shut to leaders whose legacies are written in blood?

{Source: IOL}

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