DR Congo seeks to revoke former President Kabila's immunity due to rebel ties
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) seeks to lift the immunity of former President Joseph Kabila, accusing him of supporting the M23 rebel group, which is responsible for the ongoing conflict in the country's east.
Accuses him of supporting the M23 rebel group responsible for ongoing conflict in the country's east
Government suspends Kabila's party and plans to seize assets belonging to Kabila and party leadership
Government's actions against Kabila could undermine fragile ceasefire and stabilization efforts
Justice Minister Constant Mutamba announced that the military prosecutor has formally requested the Senate to lift Kabila's immunity, a status he has held since his resignation as a life senator in 2019. Mutamba cited a "vast body of documents, witness statements, and essential facts" linking Kabila to the M23 insurgency, which has seized control of key areas in the resource-rich east of the country.
Allegations of war crimes and political fallout
The government accuses Kabila's support for the M23 of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including massacres of civilians and military personnel. In response, the authorities suspended Kabila's party, the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), and announced plans to seize assets belonging to Kabila and the party leadership.
Kabila, who ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2001 to 2019, denied any involvement with the M23. Reports of his return to the country after a two-year stay in South Africa, including an alleged visit to the M23-controlled city of Goma, were denied by his party.
These developments come amid ongoing peace negotiations between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23, which are supported by international actors. The government's actions against Kabila could undermine the fragile ceasefire and efforts to stabilize the region.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
DR Congo bans reporting on ex-President Kabila
The Congolese government has banned the media from reporting on the activities of former President Joseph Kabila and interviewing members of his party. This comes after Kabila returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo last month amid heightened tensions between himself and the government, led by his successor, President Félix Tshisekedi. The authorities are pushing to prosecute Mr Kabila amid accusations of treason and alleged links to the M23 rebels which have been fighting the army - something he has previously denied. Breaches of the ban could result in suspension, said the head of DR Congo's media regulator, Christian Bosembe. Responding to the announcement by the regulator, known as the the Supreme Council of Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC), an M23 spokesperson said the media outlets in parts of the country under its control would not abide by the ban. There has been no immediate response from Kabila, however, the secretary of his party, Ferdinand Kambere, rejected the ban, describing it as "arbitrary" on X. Kabila was last week seen in the eastern DR Congo city of Goma, which is under M23 control. He has been highly critical of the government after the senate voted to lift his immunity over his alleged support of the M23 group. DR Congo's neighbour, Rwanda has been accused of backing the rebel group, but Kigali denies this. Kabila, who has not yet been charged with any crime, launched a scathing attack on the Congolese government last month, describing it as a "dictatorship". A government spokesperson at the time rejected Kabila's criticism, saying he had "nothing to offer". Reacting to the announcement by the CSAC, activist and president of the African Association for the Defence of Human Rights, Jean-Claude Katende, said the ban constituted an "abuse of power", according to local media. Since returning to DR Congo after two years of self-imposed exile, Kabila's party has been posting his activities online, which include visiting civil society groups and local religious representatives in Goma. Additional reporting from BBC Monitoring. What's the fighting in DR Congo all about? The evidence that shows Rwanda is backing rebels in DR Congo Is Trump mulling a minerals deal with conflict-hit DR Congo? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Mike Johnson Says Trump Was ‘Not Delighted' by Musk Criticism Over His Big Beautiful Bill
Republican leaders championed the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' backed by President Trump, lauded Elon Musk for his work leading the Department of Government Efficiency and blasted Democrats for allowing 'tens of millions' of illegal aliens — like the attacker in Boulder, Colorado — into the country during a Wednesday press conference. House Speaker Mike Johnson praised Musk during most of his time speaking, saying the Tesla boss had done 'extraordinary' work finding needless government spending while leading DOGE. Musk, Johnson noted, was inside the 'belly of the beast' that is the U.S. government and helped shine a light on waste that was 'unknowable until now.' Still, Johnson also said President Trump was 'not delighted that Elon did a 180' on the bill. His comments came after Musk on Tuesday blasted the 'pork-filled' bill as a 'disgusting abomination.' The speaker's comments also stand out, considering White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday the president had shrugged off Musk's criticism of the bill. 'The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill, it doesn't change the president's opinion,' she said. Johnson on Wednesday said DOGE was 'the beginning of making government more efficient' and that it is 'going to take us a while' to make all the cuts Musk wants to see, considering it took decades for the deficit to reach the point it is at. He also said he called Musk on Tuesday night and was unable to reach him, but was hoping to the two would speak today. The 'One Big Beautiful Bill' passed the House last month and has moved to the Senate for consideration. Also on Wednesday, an analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office noted the same bill could add $2.4 trillion to the nation's debt. GOP leaders then ripped Democrats and the Biden Administration for doing nothing to curb illegal immigration at several points on Wednesday morning. Rep. Lisa McClain of Michigan said the Biden Administration's 'open border policies' paved the way for the attack against Jews in Colorado last weekend while rallying for the release of hostages held by Hamas. The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was seen on video yelling 'we have to end Zionists' in a video that went viral on X. The Egyptian national was in the country illegally, Fox News reported; Soliman entered the U.S. in 2022 and his work permit to remain in the country expired in March. 'I mean, honestly, what's next? Is a Democrat going to fly to Boulder to visit the illegal who burned Jews alive? Is that what's next for the Democratic Party?' McClain said on Wednesday. 'The contrast between Republicans and Democrats couldn't be more clear.' Shen also said more terrorist attacks could occur because of the 'tens of millions' of people who are in the country illegally thanks to Biden. Johnson then said one main reason the bill needs to pass the Senate is because it 'includes $45 billion to expand ICE detention capacity.' The post Mike Johnson Says Trump Was 'Not Delighted' by Musk Criticism Over His Big Beautiful Bill | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trump tax bill will add $2.4 trillion to deficit and leave 10.9 million uninsured, CBO analysis says
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's big bill making its way through Congress will cut taxes by $3.75 trillion but also increase deficits by $2.4 trillion over the next decade, according to an analysis released Wednesday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The CBO also estimates an increase of 10.9 million people without health insurance under the bill by 2034, including 1.4 million who are in the country without legal status in state-funded programs. The package would reduce federal outlays, or spending, by nearly $1.3 trillion over that period, the budget office said. 'Republicans cry crocodile tears over the debt when Democrats are in charge — but explode it when they're in power,' said Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee. 'In the words of Elon Musk,' Boyle said, reviving the billionaire and former Trump aide's criticism of the package, 'this bill is a 'disgusting abomination.'' The analysis comes at a crucial moment in the legislative process as Trump is pushing Congress to have the final product on his desk to sign into law by Fourth of July. The work of the CBO, which for decades has served as the official scorekeeper of legislation in Congress, will be weighed by lawmakers and others seeking to understand the budgetary impacts of the sprawling 1,000-page plus package. Ahead of CBO's release, the White House and Republican leaders criticized the budget office in a pre-emptive campaign designed to sow doubt in its findings. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said CBO has been 'historically wrong' and Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the CBO was 'flat wrong' because it underestimated the potential revenue from Trump's first round of tax breaks in 2017. The CBO last year said receipts were $1.5 trillion or 5.6% greater than predicted, in large part because of the 'burst of inflation' during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. Leavitt also suggested that CBO's employees are biased, even though certain budget office workers face strict ethical rules — including restrictions on campaign donations and political activity — to ensure objectivity and impartiality. Alongside the costs of the bill, the CBO had previously estimated that 8.6 million people would no longer have health care and 4 million fewer would have food stamps each month due to the legislation's proposed changes to Medicaid and other programs. The bill, called the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' after the president's own catch phrase, is grinding its way through Congress, as the top priority of Republicans, who control both the House and Senate — and face stiff opposition from Democrats at every step in the process. Democrats call it Trump's 'big, ugly bill.' All told, the package seeks to extend the individual income tax breaks that had been approved in 2017, but will expire in December if Congress fails to act, while adding new ones, including no taxes on tips. It also includes a massive buildup of $350 billion for border security, deportations and national security. To help cover the lost revenue, Republicans want to slash some federal spending. They propose phasing out green energy tax breaks put in place during Democrat Joe Biden's presidency. New work requirements for some adults up to age 65 on Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, would begin in December 2026 and is expected to result in less spending on those programs. The package also would provide a $4 trillion increase to the nation's debt limit, which is now $36 trillion, to allow more borrowing. The Treasury projects the debt limit will need to be raised this summer to pay the nation's already accrued bills. Now in its 50th year, the CBO was established by law after Congress sought to assert its control, as outlined in the constitution, over the budget process, in part by setting up the new office as an alternative to the White House's Office of Management and Budget. Staffed by some 275 economists, analysts and other employees, the CBO says it seeks to provide the Congress with objective, impartial information about budgetary and economic issues. Its current director, Phillip Swagel, a former Treasury Department official in Republican President George W. Bush's administration, was reappointed to a four-year term in 2023. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
