Tshisekedi's security forces have sworn to fight Kabila
Soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo's army unit protecting President Félix Tshisekedi (GR) have vowed to fight Joseph Kabila, who led the country from 2001 to 2019, as he tries to overthrow the current government.
The head of the GR, Gen Maj Ephraïm Kabi Kiriza, during a meeting with soldiers from the unit at the Colonel Tshatshi military base in Kinshasa on May 28, 2025, said that Kabila left soldiers with salary arrears, which Tshisekedi will resolve when he comes to power.
Gen Maj Kabi also said that although Kabila criticized the current military leadership in a speech to the Congolese on May 23, he has never rebuilt it, and that the claim that he led the war is also a lie.
“Kabila said he led us on the battlefield. But what battlefield? He did not join the military in the struggle and when we were in it. When he was in power, he did not even go to Camp Tshatshi.”
On May 26, the AFC/M23 coalition announced that Kabila was in Goma. People close to him confirmed that he was in talks with those who wanted to contribute to solving the insecurity problem in eastern DRC, but Gen Maj Kabi indicated that the politician wanted to wage war on the government, and even wanted to buy weapons from the military and lure them.
Gen Maj Kabi explained that GR soldiers do not interfere in politics, but that if anyone tries to enter their borders, they will fight them professionally because they cannot tolerate someone who betrays the country.
He said, “We do not interfere in politics, but if anyone tries to enter our borders, we will fight them and we will do it professionally. Do not betray Congo. The penalty for betrayal is death because our country does not forgive a traitor.”
The soldier swore to protect Tshisekedi until he finishes his duties as leader of the DRC, saying, “Our principle as GR is to protect our President. This means that we are ready to die for him or die for the country. It is a duty. I swear that we will do everything possible to ensure that President Félix Tshisekedi completes his term. No soldiers will be removed from GR.”
Gen Maj Kabi asked GR soldiers to intensify training, preparing to face anything that could threaten the security of Tshisekedi and the country in general.
