In an exclusive interview on the Long Form Podcast with host Sanny Ntayombya in Nairobi, Lumumba proposed a radical restructuring of the DRC’s governance to address systemic issues fueling the conflict, including weak state institutions, colonial-era borders, and ethnic exclusion.
Lumumba suggested that the Kinshasa administration convene an all-Congolese meeting, including all rebel groups, to discuss a confederation model inspired by Switzerland.
“A confederation that has a very loose centre, a loose centre that only takes care of defence, takes care of foreign affairs, and takes care of what I call national coordination,” he said.
He argued that granting regions autonomy in policing and policy formulation would “unburden the centre” and address grievances driving rebellions like M23, which he described as a “symptom” and “reaction” to exclusion.
Without such measures, Lumumba warned, the DRC risks becoming “more and more ungovernable,” potentially leading to de facto division despite international recognition of Kinshasa’s authority.
In Switzerland, the confederation model functions as a federal state with a strong emphasis on subsidiarity and direct democracy. It’s a system where power is distributed across three levels: the Confederation, the cantons, and the communes, each with its own specific powers and responsibilities.
The principle of subsidiarity dictates that tasks should be handled at the lowest possible level of government, and the Confederation’s powers are limited to those explicitly granted by the Federal Constitution.
This robust decentralisation ensures that cantons and communes retain significant autonomy over local matters like education and policing, while citizens actively participate in governance through frequent referendums and initiatives, fostering a bottom-up approach to decision-making that requires both a national majority of votes and a majority of cantons for key federal decisions.
The cantons are akin to states or provinces, serving as the primary administrative divisions with a high degree of sovereignty. Communes, also known as municipalities, are the smallest political units, analogous to local towns or villages.
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The M23 rebellion, fighting against decades of marginalisation and persecution of Congolese Tutsis, earlier this year captured large swathes of territory in eastern DRC, including the cities of Goma and Bukavu.
There are ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict, particularly through Qatar’s involvement in mediation and the African Union-led process, but challenges remain, with the rebels accusing the Kinshasa administration of acting in bad faith by refusing direct talks, blocking confidence-building measures such as prisoner releases, and deliberately undermining peace efforts.
Lumumba criticised the Tshisekedi administration for its reluctance to engage in meaningful dialogue and for expelling East African forces that had been deployed to separate belligerents in 2023.
He further expressed concern over the involvement of foreign mercenaries in the conflict, including those linked to Erik Prince’s Blackwater, warning that external actors are exploiting the DRC’s instability to extract its natural resources.
“There are powers and principalities outside the Democratic Republic of Congo… who believe an unstable and disorderly Congo is necessary for their well-being,” he said, citing historical exploitation by colonial powers like Belgium.
Beyond the DRC, Lumumba offered insights on other pressing African issues. He praised Burkina Faso’s Captain Ibrahim Traoré as a symbol of resistance against neo-colonialism, particularly French influence, but cautioned against oversimplifying his role.
“The jury is still out as to his actual performance,” Lumumba noted, urging that Traoré’s rise not be reduced to “empty slogans” or Russian propaganda.
He emphasised the need for a broader movement to sustain such momentum, warning that individuated leadership risks elimination, citing historical figures like Thomas Sankara and Patrice Lumumba.
On Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, Lumumba lauded his disciplined governance post-1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, crediting him with Rwanda’s remarkable recovery, under “very difficult circumstances”.
Lumumba also addressed the ongoing conflict in Sudan, describing it as a “war of egos” between leaders like Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo. He lamented the destruction of Sudan’s infrastructure and economy, warning that the proliferation of mercenaries and drones could lead to a “society that will take generations to revive.”
He called for stronger African Union intervention to resolve such conflicts, criticising the organisation’s reliance on external funding.
Reflecting on global perceptions of African leadership, Lumumba expressed dismay at U.S. President Donald Trump’s public berating of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over claims of “white genocide” during his visit to America in May.
He described the incident as painful but suggested Ramaphosa’s calm response may have mitigated the humiliation.
“When history is written, [Trump] will be the one who will be humiliated,” he said, though he questioned the timing of Ramaphosa’s U.S. visit.
Lumumba’s overarching message was a call for African unity to counter neo-colonialism and internal dysfunction. He criticised African elites for their selfishness and lack of patriotism, which he said perpetuates a “culture of scarcity” and impunity.
Quoting the late Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah, he urged the continent to speak with one voice diplomatically and economically to resist external exploitation.
“A united Africa will immunise us from the diabolical machinations of others,” he said. “A disunited Africa will be eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
Watch the full interview below:
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