![]() ![]() The delimitation of constituencies was skewed heavily to favour Kanu strongholds in the North Eastern, Rift Valley and Coast provinces. “Moi, moreover, made full use of his control of government machinery to obtain funds, harass the opposition and manipulate the results. The Fate of Africa: A History of Fifty Years of Independence Whereas Mobutu had packed his administration with supporters from his home province of Équateur, Kabila handed out key positions in government, the armed forces, security services and public companies to fellow Swahili-speaking Katangese, notably members of the Lubakat group of northern Katanga, his father’s tribe.” Two key ministries were awarded to cousins the new chief of staff of the army, James Kabarebe, was a Rwandan Tutsi who had grown up in Uganda the deputy chief of staff and commander of land forces was his 26-year-old son, Joseph the national police chief was a brother-in-law. Lacking a political organisation of his own, he surrounded himself with friends and family members and relied heavily for support and protection on Rwanda and Banyamulenge. He refused to engage with established opposition groups or with civic organisations and banned political parties. Secretive and paranoid, he had no political programme, no strategic vision and no experience of running a government. ![]() “In reality, Kabila was no more than a petty tyrant propelled to prominence by accident. ![]()
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