Latest news with #LawrenceKanyuka
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- General
- Al Jazeera
Ex-DRC President Kabila holds talks in M23-held city of Goma: Reports
Former President Joseph Kabila has returned to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, just days after he lost his immunity amid accusations he has helped armed rebels fighting in the eastern DRC, according to the Reuters and AFP news agencies. Kabila, on Thursday, was visiting the eastern city of Goma, which had been seized by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia along with several other areas in the resource-rich east of the country earlier this year. A team of AFP journalists saw Kabila meet local religious figures in the presence of M23's spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, without giving a statement. Citing three unidentified sources close to Kabila, Reuters also said the ex-president held talks with locals in Goma. The visit comes despite the former president facing the possibility of a treason trial over his alleged support for M23. Earlier this month, the DRC Senate voted to lift Kabila's immunity, paving the way for him to be prosecuted. The ex-president, who has been in self-imposed exile since 2023, denies the allegations and has slammed the charges against him as 'arbitrary decisions with disconcerting levity'. On Thursday, a member of Kabila's entourage told AFP that though no formal alliance existed between his party and M23, both shared the 'same goal' of ending the rule of President Felix Tshisekedi. The United Nations and the DRC's government say Rwanda has supported the M23 with arms and troops – an accusation the neighbouring country denies. The renewed violence has raised fears of igniting a full-blown conflict, akin to the wars that the DRC endured in the late 1990s, involving several African countries, which killed millions of people. The current fighting has already displaced about 700,000 people this year, according to the UN. On Tuesday, Amnesty International accused M23 of committing abuses against civilians in areas under its control, 'including torture, killings and enforced disappearances'. 'These acts violate international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes,' the group said in a statement. M23 says its goal is to protect ethnic minorities against the government in Kinshasa.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-DR Congo president returns to country, party says
Former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila is back in the country for the first time in two years having arrived in the M23-held eastern city of Goma, two spokespeople from the rebel group as well as a youth leader from his party have said. Kabila's arrival comes after senators stripped him of his immunity over alleged support for the Rwanda-backed M23 which has been fighting the Congolese army. Kabila, who has previously denied a link with the rebel group, recently decried the justice system for permitting itself to being "exploited for political end". The 53-year-old led DR Congo for 18 years, after succeeding his father Laurent, who was shot dead in 2001. Speaking to the BBC, a Goma youth leader for Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), confirmed earlier reports from the M23 that Kabila had returned and stated that residents were "happy" about his arrival. "Kabila should be allowed full access to the country. For us it is like a father has returned to his children," Innocent Mirimo told BBC Swahili. Last month, the PPRD was banned because of its "ambiguous attitude" to the occupation of Congolese territory by the M23. In a message on X, rebel spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka welcomed Kabila to Goma saying: "We wish him a pleasant stay in the liberated areas." A similar message was shared by another spokesperson, Willy Ngoma. The Congolese authorities, who accuse Kabila of war crimes and treason, say there is a "substantial body of documents, testimony and material facts" that link the former leader to the M23. In a now-deleted YouTube video released on Friday, Kabila called the Congolese government, led by President Félix Tshisekedi a "dictatorship", and stated there was a "decline of democracy" in the country. He also outlined his plan to end decades of instability in the country. Congolese government spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya, has rejected Kabila's remarks, telling Congolese TV channel RTNC TV that Kabila "has nothing to offer the country". Fighting between the Congolese army and the M23 first broke out in 2012 and ended in a peace deal the following year. But in 2021 the group took up arms again, saying the promises made in the deal had been broken. Since the beginning of this year, the M23 has made major advances in the mineral-rich east, including taking the key city of Goma in January. The group, which Rwanda has denied backing, says its goal is to protect the minority Tutsi-ethnic group. However, the ongoing conflict has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians who have been forced to flee their homes in the last few months. Kabila, who stepped down as DR Congo's president in 2019, was once an ally of President Tshisekedi. However the two men fell out, culminating in the termination of their parties' coalition in December 2020. The former president has been living outside the country, in South Africa, for the past two years. But at the beginning of last month he said he would be returning to help find a solution to the conflict in the east. What's the fighting in DR Congo all about? The evidence that shows Rwanda is backing rebels in DR Congo 'We would vote for peace - if we had a vote' 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
BBC News
7 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Joseph Kabila: Ex-DR Congo president returns to the country, party says
Former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila is back in the country for the first time in two years having arrived in the M23-held eastern city of Goma, two spokespeople from the rebel group as well as a youth leader from his party have arrival comes after senators stripped him of his immunity over alleged support for the Rwanda-backed M23 which has been fighting the Congolese who has previously denied a link with the rebel group, recently decried the justice system for permitting itself to being "exploited for political end".The 53-year-old led DR Congo for 18 years, after succeeding his father Laurent, who was shot dead in 2001. Speaking to the BBC, a Goma youth leader for Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), confirmed earlier reports from the M23 that Kabila had returned and stated that residents were "happy" about his arrival."Kabila should be allowed full access to the country. For us it is like a father has returned to his children," Innocent Mirimo told BBC month, the PPRD was banned because of its "ambiguous attitude" to the occupation of Congolese territory by the a message on X, rebel spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka welcomed Kabila to Goma saying: "We wish him a pleasant stay in the liberated areas."A similar message was shared by another spokesperson, Willy Congolese authorities, who accuse Kabila of war crimes and treason, say there is a "substantial body of documents, testimony and material facts" that link the former leader to the a now-deleted YouTube video released on Friday, Kabila called the Congolese government, led by President Félix Tshisekedi a "dictatorship", and stated there was a "decline of democracy" in the also outlined his plan to end decades of instability in the country. Congolese government spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya, has rejected Kabila's remarks, telling Congolese TV channel RTNC TV that Kabila "has nothing to offer the country".Fighting between the Congolese army and the M23 first broke out in 2012 and ended in a peace deal the following year. But in 2021 the group took up arms again, saying the promises made in the deal had been the beginning of this year, the M23 has made major advances in the mineral-rich east, including taking the key city of Goma in group, which Rwanda has denied backing, says its goal is to protect the minority Tutsi-ethnic the ongoing conflict has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians who have been forced to flee their homes in the last few months. Kabila, who stepped down as DR Congo's president in 2019, was once an ally of President Tshisekedi. However the two men fell out, culminating in the termination of their parties' coalition in December former president has been living outside the country, in South Africa, for the past two years. But at the beginning of last month he said he would be returning to help find a solution to the conflict in the east. More BBC Africa stories about DR Congo: What's the fighting in DR Congo all about?The evidence that shows Rwanda is backing rebels in DR Congo'We would vote for peace - if we had a vote' Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Congo rebels leave strategic town ahead of planned Doha talks
(Reuters) - Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have withdrawn from the strategic town of Walikale, describing the move as a goodwill gesture ahead of planned peace talks with the government next week. M23 has seized eastern Congo's two largest cities in a swift advance since January that has resulted in thousands of deaths and forced hundreds of thousands more from their homes. The fighting has raised fears of a wider regional war, as Congo's neighbours Uganda and Burundi also have troops in the region. Congo's government and M23 plan to hold their first direct talks in Doha on April 9, sources from both camps told Reuters this week. Situated along a road linking four eastern Congo provinces, Walikale is in an area rich in minerals including tin. M23 pledged to withdraw from Walikale last month but initially failed to do so, accusing the Congolese army of going back on its own commitments and not withdrawing attack drones. Two residents and a local official confirmed to Reuters this week that they had left the town. Army spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge told Reuters on Friday that Congolese troops were there, confirming M23 soldiers had left. "If the forces of the Kinshasa regime continue their provocations or attacks on civilians in the liberated areas and on our positions, this gesture of goodwill will automatically be cancelled, and we will eliminate the threat at its source," Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesperson for the rebel alliance that includes M23, said in a statement on X on Thursday. Doctors Without Borders said this week that civilians, along with its own teams, had been trapped by the violence in Walikale and that essential medical supplies would soon run out there. The United Nations and Western governments say Rwanda has provided arms and troops to the ethnic Tutsi-led M23. Rwanda has denied backing M23 and says its military has acted in self-defence against Congo's army and a militia founded by perpetrators of the 1994 genocide.
Reuters
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Congo rebels leave strategic town ahead of planned Doha talks
April 4 (Reuters) - Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have withdrawn from the strategic town of Walikale, describing the move as a goodwill gesture ahead of planned peace talks with the government next week. M23 has seized eastern Congo's two largest cities in a swift advance since January that has resulted in thousands of deaths and forced hundreds of thousands more from their homes. The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter is your daily guide to the latest global trade and tariff news. Sign up here. The fighting has raised fears of a wider regional war, as Congo's neighbours Uganda and Burundi also have troops in the region. Congo's government and M23 plan to hold their first direct talks in Doha on April 9, sources from both camps told Reuters this week. Situated along a road linking four eastern Congo provinces, Walikale is in an area rich in minerals including tin. M23 pledged to withdraw from Walikale last month but initially failed to do so, accusing the Congolese army of going back on its own commitments and not withdrawing attack drones. Two residents and a local official confirmed to Reuters this week that they had left the town. Army spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge told Reuters on Friday that Congolese troops were there, confirming M23 soldiers had left. "If the forces of the Kinshasa regime continue their provocations or attacks on civilians in the liberated areas and on our positions, this gesture of goodwill will automatically be cancelled, and we will eliminate the threat at its source," Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesperson for the rebel alliance that includes M23, said in a statement on X on Thursday. Doctors Without Borders said this week that civilians, along with its own teams, had been trapped by the violence in Walikale and that essential medical supplies would soon run out there. The United Nations and Western governments say Rwanda has provided arms and troops to the ethnic Tutsi-led M23. Rwanda has denied backing M23 and says its military has acted in self-defence against Congo's army and a militia founded by perpetrators of the 1994 genocide.
