In an exclusive interview on the Long Form Podcast with host Sanny Ntayombya in Nairobi, Lumumba proposed a radical restructuring of the DRC\u2019s governance to address systemic issues fueling the conflict, including weak state institutions, colonial-era borders, and ethnic exclusion.<\/p>\n
Lumumba suggested that the Kinshasa administration convene an all-Congolese meeting, including all rebel groups, to discuss a confederation model inspired by Switzerland.<\/p>\n
\u201cA 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,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
He argued that granting regions autonomy in policing and policy formulation would \u201cunburden the centre\u201d and address grievances driving rebellions like M23, which he described as a \u201csymptom\u201d and \u201creaction\u201d to exclusion. <\/p>\n
Without such measures, Lumumba warned, the DRC risks becoming \u201cmore and more ungovernable,\u201d potentially leading to de facto division despite international recognition of Kinshasa\u2019s authority.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
{{M23 rebellion
\n}}<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
He further expressed concern over the involvement of foreign mercenaries in the conflict, including those linked to Erik Prince\u2019s Blackwater, warning that external actors are exploiting the DRC\u2019s instability to extract its natural resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are powers and principalities outside the Democratic Republic of Congo\u2026 who believe an unstable and disorderly Congo is necessary for their well-being,\u201d he said, citing historical exploitation by colonial powers like Belgium.<\/p>\n
Beyond the DRC, Lumumba offered insights on other pressing African issues. He praised Burkina Faso\u2019s Captain Ibrahim Traor\u00e9 as a symbol of resistance against neo-colonialism, particularly French influence, but cautioned against oversimplifying his role. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe jury is still out as to his actual performance,\u201d Lumumba noted, urging that Traor\u00e9\u2019s rise not be reduced to \u201cempty slogans\u201d or Russian propaganda. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
On Rwanda\u2019s President Paul Kagame, Lumumba lauded his disciplined governance post-1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, crediting him with Rwanda\u2019s remarkable recovery, under \u201cvery difficult circumstances”.<\/p>\n
Lumumba also addressed the ongoing conflict in Sudan, describing it as a \u201cwar of egos\u201d between leaders like Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan \u201cHemedti\u201d Dagalo. He lamented the destruction of Sudan\u2019s infrastructure and economy, warning that the proliferation of mercenaries and drones could lead to a \u201csociety that will take generations to revive.\u201d <\/p>\n
He called for stronger African Union intervention to resolve such conflicts, criticising the organisation\u2019s reliance on external funding.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on global perceptions of African leadership, Lumumba expressed dismay at U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s public berating of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over claims of \u201cwhite genocide” during his visit to America in May.<\/p>\n
He described the incident as painful but suggested Ramaphosa\u2019s calm response may have mitigated the humiliation. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen history is written, [Trump] will be the one who will be humiliated,\u201d he said, though he questioned the timing of Ramaphosa\u2019s U.S. visit.<\/p>\n
Lumumba\u2019s 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 \u201cculture of scarcity\u201d and impunity. <\/p>\n
Quoting the late Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah, he urged the continent to speak with one voice diplomatically and economically to resist external exploitation. <\/p>\n
\u201cA united Africa will immunise us from the diabolical machinations of others,\u201d he said. \u201cA disunited Africa will be eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n
Watch the full interview below:<\/p>\n