A book titled "Mes mémoires" was presented in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, on October 8, 2026. The autobiography, written by Prof. Dr. Gilbert Kabanda, chronicles his life from his rural origins in Burhiba, Bukavu, in 1946, to his prominent roles in medicine and the military. The book was presented by its editor, Richard Ali, during an exchange with the Congolese Press Agency (ACP).
According to Richard Ali, the 200-page book is a significant scientific, military, and political testimony on the contemporary history of the former Zaire and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Prof. Kabanda, a former Minister of National Defense and Scientific Research, recounts his journey, including his decision to become a doctor at the age of 11 after witnessing his mother's miraculous recovery.
The autobiography highlights Prof. Kabanda's contributions to the modernization of the Military Health Corps, created in 2007, and the establishment of the Rapid Intervention Medical Unit (UMIR). UMIR was deployed during conflicts and disasters in the DR Congo and Congo-Brazzaville. Additionally, Prof. Kabanda conducted research in phytotherapy.
The book was symbolically baptized by Christian Kabanda, the author's youngest son, during a ceremony attended by President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo. The event brought together several institutional personalities, government members, parliamentarians, public officials, and university representatives.
Richard Ali revealed that President Tshisekedi, the initiator of the Pan-African Literature Grand Prize, was presented with the first varnished copy of "Mes mémoires", which Prof. Kabanda dedicated on the spot. The editor also mentioned that Prof. Kabanda had defended a thesis on cardiovascular health of troops at the University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN).
Prof. Kabanda's achievements include the construction of the Military Health Corps' headquarters at Camp Kokolo and his role as a professor at the University of Kinshasa, where he introduced aeronautical medicine. He is also a member of the International Academy of Aeronautical and Space Medicine.
Born in 1946 in Burhiba, Bukavu, Prof. Kabanda has had a distinguished career in medicine, the military, and politics. He was trained as a military doctor at the Lovanium University and specialized in aerospace medicine in Rome, standing out for his integrity during the Mobutu regime.
Key points
- The autobiography "Mes mémoires" by Prof. Dr. Gilbert Kabanda offers insights into his life and contributions to the Democratic Republic of Congo's medical, military, and political landscape.
- Prof. Kabanda's achievements include modernizing the Military Health Corps and establishing the Rapid Intervention Medical Unit (UMIR).
- The book was presented in Kinshasa on October 8, 2026, in a ceremony attended by President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo.
