Kabila’s Legacy of Chaos

The death of Laurent Kabila, the autocratic president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, promises, if confirmed, even more chaos for his war-riven nation. At this point, only combined internal and external forces could put down Congo’s civil war, drive out thousands of foreign troops and persuade the United Nations to send in peacekeepers, presuming there is a peace to keep.

No matter who rules in the presidential palace--the dictator’s son is the likely candidate--continued fighting threatens to destroy the Central African nation, the third-largest country in Africa and one of the richest in natural resources. The instability of Congo, formerly called Zaire, destabilizes the entire region.

The dictator came to power in May 1997 with support from Rwanda and Uganda. He and his forces prevailed against longtime dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who had plundered the country during a reign that impoverished most Congolese citizens.

Kabila, whom South African independence leader Nelson Mandela once called “an outstanding thinker, a dynamic leader and a man committed to peace,” turned out to be none of the above. He broke every promise that he made, ruled with dictatorial powers and, in the end, became the biggest obstacle to peace and prosperity in Congo.

Less than 14 months after seizing power, Kabila turned on his allies, triggering a wider conflict that eventually plunged Congo into a civil war that drew in Uganda and Rwanda on the rebel side and Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Sudan and Chad in support of the Congolese government. Sudan and Chad left the alliance, but the killing did not let up.

Kabila’s government signed a peace agreement with the rebels in July 1999, but it was shaky from the beginning. The agreement called for a cease-fire, the removal of foreign troops and the deployment of U.N. peacekeepers. That effort collapsed in renewed fighting.

Civil war enriched Kabila, his allies and his military enemies alike, while further depriving Congolese civilians. In a nation with oil, gold, silver and diamonds, refugees are fleeing by the thousands. Few outside powers would be willing to step into this crisis. Kabila destroyed all prospects.