{{Short description|Congolese politician, lawyer and public figure}} {{Family name hatnote|Ruberwa|Manywa|lang=Congolese}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Azarias Ruberwa | native_name = | native_name_lang = | honorific_suffix = | image = Azarias Ruberwa - 2004.jpg | caption = Azarias Ruberwa in 2004 | image_size = | alt = | office = [[Vice-Presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|Vice President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] | term_start = June 2003 | term_end = 6 December 2006 | president = [[Joseph Kabila]] | prime_minister = | predecessor = ''Position established'' | successor = ''Position abolished'' | office2 = Minister of State, Minister of Decentralization and Institutional Reforms | term_start2 = November 2016 | term_end2 = March 2021 | alongside2 = | president2 = [[Joseph Kabila]], [[Félix Tshisekedi]] | prime_minister2 = [[Samy Badibanga]], [[Bruno Tshibala]], [[Sylvestre Ilunga]] | predecessor2 = | successor2 = [[Daniel Aselo Okito|Daniel Asselo]] | office3 = Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Transportation | term_start3 = February 2019 | term_end3 = September 2019 | alongside3 = | president3 = [[Félix Tshisekedi]] | prime_minister3 = [[Bruno Tshibala]] | predecessor3 = [[José Makila Sumanda]] | successor3 = | office4 = Minister of State, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals | term_start4 = March 2019 | term_end4 = September 2019 | alongside4 = | president4 = [[Félix Tshisekedi]] | prime_minister4 = [[Bruno Tshibala]] | predecessor4 = [[Alexis Thambwe Mwamba]] | successor4 = [[Célestin Tunda Ya Kasende]] | nickname = | birth_name = | birth_date = August 20, 1964<br>[[Fizi]], [[Congo-Leopoldville]] }} '''Azarias Ruberwa Manywa''' (born August 20, 1964) is a Congolese politician, lawyer, and public figure. During the [[Second Congo War]] he was Secretary-General of the [[Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie]] (RCD-G) rebel group.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Africa's world war : Congo, the Rwandan genocide, and the making of a continental catastrophe|last=Gérard|first=Prunier|date=2009|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780195374209|location=Oxford|oclc=227574034}}</ref> Following the war, he was one of the [[Vice Presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|vice-presidents]] in the transitional government of the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] between 2003 and 2006.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FvAWPTaRvFYC|title=Historical Dictionary of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|first1=Emizet Francois|last1=Kisangani|first2=Scott F.|last2=Bobb|date=October 1, 2009|publisher=Scarecrow Press|via=Google Books|isbn=9780810863255}}</ref> He has also been the leader and president of RCD-G's political party since 2003. He is a member of the [[Banyamulenge]] community of [[South Kivu]] who belong to the [[Tutsi]] ethnic group.
==Early life and education== Ruberwa was born on August 20, 1964, in the village of Rugezi, located in the highland region of the [[Fizi]] territory in the South Kivu province. He belongs to the [[Banyamulenge]] community which is a part of the [[Tutsi]] ethnic group.<ref name="auto3">id.</ref> Tutsis in the Congo make up a very small minority.<ref name="auto3"/>
Ruberwa spent his early years in [[Minembwe]], South Kivu before moving on to [[Katanga Province]] to finish high school and college.<ref name="auto3"/> He attended the [[University of Lubumbashi]] where he received his LLB (degree in law), specializing in economics and social law and finishing with highest distinction.<ref name="auto3"/><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cabinetruberwa.com/the-team-in-dr-congo/|title=The Team – Cabinet Ruberwa|accessdate=21 June 2023|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327091235/http://www.cabinetruberwa.com/the-team-in-dr-congo/|url-status=dead}}</ref> After graduation, he passed the [[Zaire]] national bar exam and became licensed to practice in August 1990.<ref name="auto3"/> After three years of working for a law firm in Lubumbashi, Ruberwa opened his own law firm known as “Cabinet Azarias Ruberwa Manywa” in 1993.<ref name="auto3"/> He practiced law in Lubumbashi until the war began in 1996.<ref name="auto3"/>
==Congo Civil Wars (1996-2003)== After the [[First Congo War]] began.<ref>Vlassenroot, Koen. "Conflict & Malitia Formation in Eastern Congo." Ed. Preben Kaarsholm. Violence, Political Culture & Development in Africa. Athens: Ohio UP, 2006. 49–65. p. 53</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2004/08/19/the-jews-of-africa|title=The "Jews" of Africa|date=August 19, 2004|newspaper=The Economist}}</ref> Ruberwa and his family were forced to flee the country however, in early 1997, Ruberwa decided to join the AFDL rebel group as a political analyst and speech writer in order to help the group win the war against longtime dictator [[Mobutu Sese Seko]]. Ruberwa is credited with writing [[Laurent-Désiré Kabila]]'s victory speech after the fall of Lubumbashi, often described as the turning point of the war, as well as writing Kabila's inaugural speech.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2001/0524/p6s1.html|title=A new cause for Congo rebels?|date=May 24, 2001|journal=Christian Science Monitor}}</ref>
Once the war ended, Ruberwa was appointed Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, [[Bizima Karaha]]. Among other things, he led a delegation to Rome during his tenure to represent the Democratic Republic of Congo in the negotiations leading up to the Treaty of Rome-which was responsible for creating the [[International Criminal Court]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/feature/2006/06/28/key-figures-congos-electoral-process|title=Key Figures in Congo's Electoral Process|date=June 28, 2006|website=The New Humanitarian}}</ref>
The [[Second Congo War]] began on August 2, 1998.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/angola/congo-war-briefing-internal-and-external-players-central-african-conflict|title=Congo at War: A Briefing on the Internal and External Players in the Central African Conflict - Angola|website=ReliefWeb}}</ref> Ruberwa, along with several other Congolese politicians left the government to create the [[Rally for Congolese Democracy]] (RCD), a Rwandan-backed movement based in [[Goma]] which went on to amass between 30,000 and 40,000 troops and control about 50 percent of the country. Ruberwa first served as Chief of Cabinet for the RCD's Department of Exterior Relations. He later became a member of the executive committee and the Deputy Head (Chief of Adjunct) of the Department of Exterior Relations.
Ruberwa was eventually appointed RCD Secretary General in October 2000, which effectively made him the de facto political leader of the organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/drc-rebel-leader-resigns-admitting-errors|title=DRC: Rebel leader resigns admitting "errors" - Democratic Republic of the Congo|website=ReliefWeb|date=30 October 2000 }}</ref> In this capacity, Ruberwa took on the chief negotiator role for the movement at both the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement in [[Zambia]] and the Sun City Accords in [[Pretoria]], [[South Africa]].
Ruberwa did not become president of the RCD movement until after the transitional government began in July 2003.
==Vice President of the DRC (2003-2006)== Under the Sun City Peace Deal, a power-sharing transitional government was formed and Ruberwa was named Vice President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, along with [[Jean-Pierre Bemba]], [[Arthur Z'ahidi Ngoma]], and [[Abdoulaye Yerodia Ndombasi]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3006769.stm|title=Key rebel named for Kinshasa|date=May 7, 2003|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Vice President Ruberwa was given executive control of political affairs, defense, and security.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/q-and/2003/05/02/interview-azarias-ruberwa-secretary-general-rcd-goma|title=Interview with Azarias Ruberwa, secretary general of RCD-Goma|date=May 2, 2003|website=The New Humanitarian}}</ref> Under this title, he was given a broad range of responsibilities such as being in charge of the process to draft the country's newest constitution, helping to create a unified national army, and helping to organize the first legitimate elections in the country since the independence of Congo from Belgium in 1960. More or less, he successfully accomplished each of the three against many obstacles.
===Gatumba Massacre=== One of the most difficult decisions Vice President Ruberwa had to make came on the night of August 13, 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2004/8/4120ad424/burundi-set-refugee-camp-new-congolese-arrivals-following-deadly-attack.html|title=Burundi to set up refugee camp for new Congolese arrivals following deadly attack|first=United Nations High Commissioner for|last=Refugees|website=UNHCR}}</ref> Having just come back to Congo that day from visiting a refugee camp full of mostly Congolese Tutsi refugees in [[Gatumba]], [[Burundi]], Ruberwa learned of an apparent attack on that same camp.<ref name="auto3"/> The attack was believed to have been carried out by members of the [[Forces for National Liberation]], (a predominantly Burundian Hutu rebel movement known for its hostility towards Tutsis) and the [[Mai-Mai]], a Congolese rebel group who seem to have also been complicit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/burundi-probes-refugee-slaughter/|title=Burundi Probes Refugee Slaughter|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=11 June 2004 }}</ref> It resulted in one of the largest civilian massacres carried out in the history of Burundi and led to at least 166 deaths and another 106 wounded people.<ref name="auto2"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/legacy/backgrounder/africa/burundi/2004/0904/7.htm|title=Burundi: The Gatumba Massacre - War Crimes and Political Agendas (Human Rights Watch Briefing Paper, September 2004): Summary|website=www.hrw.org}}</ref>
The next day the Vice President returned to the refugee camp to visit the survivors and help bury the victims; some of whom were members of his own family.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://monuc.unmissions.org/node/100044007|title=Press Review|date=March 6, 2009|website=MONUC}}</ref> After further assessing the severity of what had happened, Ruberwa decided on August 23 to suspend his party's participation in the transitional government.<ref name="auto3"/> While many international observers viewed this as a potential threat to the peace deal, Ruberwa remarked that "this was not a call to go back to war, rather, a call to go back to the negotiating table in order to concretize outstanding issues regarding the protection of Congolese minorities."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/drc-ex-rebel-group-suspends-participation-transitional-government|title=DRC: Ex-rebel group suspends participation in transitional government - Democratic Republic of the Congo|website=ReliefWeb|date=24 August 2004 }}</ref>
The suspension of the government continued for about a week until South African President [[Thabo Mbeki]] came to DRC to help mediate the conflict between Ruberwa and the [[Kinshasa]] government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2004-08-30-mbeki-visits-drc-amid-political-crisis/|title=Mbeki visits DRC amid political crisis|first=Eddy|last=Isango|website=The M&G Online|date=30 August 2004}}</ref> After meeting with the South African delegation, Ruberwa and members of the RCD party decided to end the suspension once they secured additional guarantees for a new road map for peace.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/drc-former-rebel-group-re-enters-government|title=DRC: Former rebel group re-enters government - Democratic Republic of the Congo|website=ReliefWeb|date=2 September 2004 }}</ref>
==Post-Government career (2006-2016)== After running in the [[2006 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election|2006 presidential elections]] and losing in a crowded field to incumbent President [[Joseph Kabila]], Ruberwa decided to step away from politics and to reopen his law practice in [[Lubumbashi]] along with two additional offices in [[Kinshasa]] and [[Goma]].<ref name="auto"/> The firm specializes in corporate transactional work, commercial and white collar litigation, international arbitration, and lobbying.<ref name="auto3"/> The firm's clients range in industry: banking, mining, telecommunications, international development and non-profit organizations.<ref name="auto3"/>
Ruberwa previously served on the board of [[Mercy Ships]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercyships.org/who-we-are/board/|title=Mercy Ships | Board|website=www.mercyships.org}}</ref> from 2010 to 2019. He continues to serve on several other boards such as The International Leadership Foundation, Congo Family Restoration, The Congolese National Prayer Breakfast Group, and a few other organizations. He has also spoken at numerous conferences, seminars and universities throughout Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://afreg.org/African_Forum_on_Religion_&_Government/AFREG.html|title=AFREG|website=afreg.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.stthomas.edu/durenberger-and-former-congo-vice-president-to-join-spring-community-dialogue-here-thursday/|title=Durenberger and former Congo vice president to join Spring Community Dialogue here Thursday|first=St Thomas|last=Newsroom|date=November 30, 1999}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.liberty.edu/news/index.cfm?PID=18495&MID=26107|title=Dignitary from Congo visits campus | Liberty University|website=www.liberty.edu|date=7 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.socialstudies.org/system/files/publications/articles/se_7207372.pdf|title=A Voice From The Congo|author=Mike Koren |year=2008|website=socialstudies.org|access-date=21 June 2023}}</ref>
==Return to DRC government (2016-2021)== In November 2016, Ruberwa returned to the DRC government as the Minister of Decentralization and Institutional Reforms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.ug/kabila-pressure-names-new-government-power-sharing-deal/|title = Kabila under pressure, names new government under power-sharing deal|date = 9 May 2017}}</ref> In this capacity, Ruberwa is in charge of the decentralization process for each of the 26 provinces in the country; twenty-one of which were created in the [[Subdivisions of the DR Congo#New provinces|2015 repartitioning]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/africasource/below-the-surface-a-game-changer-in-congolese-politics|title=Below the Surface, a Game Changer in Congolese Politics|first=Pierre|last=Englebert|website=Atlantic Council|date=16 July 2018}}</ref> Ruberwa has been lauded for adopting a strong interdependence approach that favors empowering provincial and local officials in each province and helping them become less dependent on the national government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hfgproject.org/national-provincial-level-officials-gather-kinshasa-drc-course-health-sector-decentralization/|title=Officials Gather in Kinshasa, DRC for Course on Health Sector Decentralization | HFG|accessdate=21 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zoom-eco.net/a-la-une/rdc-ruberwa-explique-les-trois-d-de-la-reforme-institutionnelle/|title=RDC : Ruberwa explique les "trois D" de la réforme institutionnelle !|first=La|last=Rédaction|date=March 13, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://laprosperite.online/index.php/politique/1096-urgences-de-felix-tshisekedi-decentralisation-azarias-ruberwa-mobilise-les-partenaires|title=[Urgences de Félix Tshisekedi] Décentralisation : Azarias Ruberwa mobilise les partenaires !|first=Merdi|last=Bosengele|website=Journal La Prospérité}}</ref>
In the months leading up to the 2018 Elections, Ruberwa and his party joined the [[Common Front for Congo]] coalition, also known as FCC. After the [[2018 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election]], Ruberwa remained in government and was asked to concurrently serve as Vice Prime Minister and Interim Minister of Transportation after [[José Makila Sumanda]] stepped down to join parliament.<ref>{{Cite web | title=usurped title | url=https://www.ouraganfm.com/?Bruno-Tshibala-reorganise-son-equipe-apres-le-depart-des-ministres-elus-deputes | access-date=2025-02-12 | website=www.ouraganfm.com}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Ruberwa also served as the Interim Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals after [[Alexis Thambwe Mwamba]] stepped down to become the President of the Senate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mediacongo.net/article-actualite-50614_thambwe_mwamba_a_quitte_le_gouvernement.html |title = mediacongo.net - Actualités - Thambwe Mwamba a quitté le gouvernement}}</ref> This was done in accordance with Article 108 of the Congolese Constitution which forbids members of parliament or senate from simultaneously also serving in a cabinet position. Since both Ministers had run in the parliamentary elections and won seats, they could not continue to serve as Ministers. Ruberwa further served as the Acting Prime Minister for several weeks between June and July 2019, while [[Bruno Tshibala]] took a medical leave of absence. After the new government was formed in September 2019, Ruberwa was one of a handful of Ministers to retain a Ministerial position in the new Government, keeping the Ministry of Decentralization and Institutional Reforms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theafricareport.com/17049/drc-whos-who-in-the-new-ministerial-crew/|title = DRC: Who's who in the new ministerial crew|date = 9 September 2019}}</ref>
On January 3, 2020, social media reports surfaced alleging that a bomb had gone off at Ruberwa's residence. However, these reports were quickly denounced by the Chief Police Commissioner of the City of Kinshasa, Mr. Kasongo Kisenge Sylvano, who released a statement warning that "instigators had spread this false information in order to manipulate the opinion and thus to disturb the public order in the capital."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.cd/desintox/2020/01/04/la-police-congolaise-dement-une-attaque-a-la-bombe-a-la-residence-de-ruberwa.html/51793/ |title = La police congolaise dément une "attaque à la bombe" à la résidence de Ruberwa {{!}} Politico.cd| newspaper=Politico.cd |date = 4 January 2020 | last1=Rédaction | first1=La }}</ref> He also mentioned that an investigation would be opened to dismantle the network of designers and propagators of false information against Ruberwa and other authorities in the country.<ref>https://24nnewsrdc.com/rdc-pas-dattaque-la-residence-dazarias-ruberwaselon-la-police/ {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>
In 2020, he announced the planned community of [[Lumumbaville]] to be built in [[Sankuru]] province.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-27 |title=RDC: le gouvernement adopte l'opérationnalistation de Lumumba-ville (Wembo-Nyama) en tant que ville |url=https://actualite.cd/2020/06/27/rdc-le-gouvernement-adopte-loperationnalistation-de-lumumba-ville-wembo-nyama-en-tant |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Actualite.cd |language=fr}}</ref>
In March 2021, he lost his post when a new government under [[Sama Lukonde]] was formed.
==Personal== Ruberwa is married to the former Chantal Shama.<ref name="auto1">Ruberwa, Azarias, (2006). Notre Vision de la République Démocratique du Congo: bilan d’une action, esquisse d’un projet. L’Harmattan. {{ISBN|9782296011953}} OCLC 2296011950</ref> The couple have three adult children.<ref name="auto3"/>
In preparation for his 2006 presidential campaign, Ruberwa wrote a book titled "Our Vision for the Democratic Republic of Congo: Assessment of an Action, Outline of a Project." It was published by the Paris-based publishing company, [[L'Harmattan]].<ref name="auto1"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311110141/http://www.ruberwa.cd/ Azarias Ruberwa for President] {{2006 presidential election candidates, Democratic Republic of the Congo}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruberwa, Azarias}} [[Category:1964 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from South Kivu]] [[Category:Vice-presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] [[Category:Candidates for President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] [[Category:Rally for Congolese Democracy politicians]] [[Category:21st-century Democratic Republic of the Congo people]]