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DW
4 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Ex-Congo leader Joseph Kabila resurfaces from exile – DW – 05/29/2025
Joseph Kabila, former president of the DR Congo, appeared in the rebel-held eastern Congo "to push for peace." Kabila has been accused of atrocities in supporting insurgents. Joseph Kabila, the self-exiled former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), appeared in public for the first time since 2023 on Thursday. Kabila, who is wanted on suspicion of crimes against humanity for his support of insurgents accused of massacring civilians in the eastern part of the country, appeared in rebel-held territory to meet with local religious leaders in what was billed as an effort to mediate peace. Beyond the threat of prosecution, authorities in Congo are also seeking to ban Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) as well as seizing assets held by its leaders. Kabila has said for weeks that he would return to help find a solution to an ongoing conflict that has seen M23 rebels make large territorial gains since January. Kabila, who has spent much of his exile in South Africa, has denied ties to M23. Kabila: Peace broker or would-be rebel leader? After meeting with Kabila at the former president's residence outside Goma in eastern Congo on Thursday, Joel Amurani said, "The former president... called us to express his wish to see peace return to the eastern part of the country and throughout the country." Amurani is president of the Interfaith Synergy for Peace and Mediation, a religious group that attended the meeting. An aide to Kabila said further talks would be held with political, military and civic leaders on Friday. Kabila invited religious leaders to his home to discuss a path to peace in the DRC Image: Jospin Mwisha/AFP Kabila gave no indication of how long he would remain in the rebel-held area. The government of Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi this week accused Kabila of "positioning himself as the rebel leader" alongside Rwandan President Paul Kagame as a result of his sudden reappearance after rebel advances. The United Nations and other Western nations accuse Rwanda of supplying arms and assistance to M23 rebels battling Congolese forces, something Kagame's government denies. Kabila's return could complicate plans for a US-proposed Congo-Rwanda peace agreement paired with a multi-billion-dollar minerals deal in the resource-rich country. Massad Boulos, White House senior Africa adviser and the father-in-law of US President Donald Trump's daughter Tiffany, has previously said the deal could be finalized by summer. Eastern Congo is known for its vast mineral riches, however, the World Bank ranks the DR Congo as one of the five poorest countries in the world. During his time in power, Kabila oversaw the sale of cobalt, copper, diamonds and uranium during a reign marked by accusations of corruption and poor governance. Congo's current government calls ex-President Kabila a traitor Joseph Kabila took control of Congo as a 29-year-old when his father, Laurent Kabila, was killed by a bodyguard. The younger Kabila then led Congo for 18 years before ultimately stepping aside to make way for Felix Tshisekedi in 2019 — in what was the first "peaceful" transition of power in the country since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Before Kabila stepped down, however, dozens of civilians were killed after he delayed the vote and clung to power. Though he had maintained a low profile while wielding considerable political influence behind the scenes since then, Kabila broke his public silence last Friday when he delivered a speech decrying what he called "dictatorship" in the DRC. Tshisekedi's government now accuses Kabila of treason. Edited by Sean Sinico
eNCA
24-05-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Ex-leader Kabila slams DR Congo 'dictatorship' after losing immunity
KINSHASA - Former DR Congo president Joseph Kabila said he would soon visit a city occupied by the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group, branding the current government a "dictatorship" after he lost his immunity. In a rare speech streamed live on the internet, the Democratic Republic of Congo's leader between 2001 and 2019 took aim at current President Felix Tshisekedi, who in turn has accused Kabila of conspiring with the M23. A day after the Senate voted to lift his parliamentary immunity, opening the 53-year-old to prosecution for his supposed support of the armed group, Kabila hit out at "arbitrary decisions" by Kinshasa over reports he had visited the M23-occupied city of Goma. "Following a simple rumour from the street or social networks, about my alleged presence in Goma, where I will be going in the next few days... the regime in place in Kinshasa took arbitrary decisions with disconcerting levity, which testifies to the spectacular retreat of democracy in our country," Kabila said. "The dictatorship must end, and democracy and good economic and social governance must be restored," Kabila added. Although he left the country in 2023, with his entourage tight-lipped on his exact whereabouts, the former president still enjoys some influence over Congolese political life. Tshisekedi has accused Kabila of plotting an "insurrection" with the M23 and has regularly named him as the architect of its lightning advance in the east, where the armed group has seized swathes of territory with Rwanda's help. - 'Witch hunt' - In his speech Kabila set out a 12-point plan to end the more than three-decade-long conflict in the DRC's east, which has intensified since the M23's resurgence in 2021. Since the beginning of 2025 the anti-government armed group has seized the key eastern cities of Goma and Bukavu, and set up to govern for the long term in the areas under its control. Kabila in April caused surprise across the DRC by announcing his grand return to the country by the conflict-riven east. No concrete evidence of his return ever emerged. Yet in the wake of the announcement, the Congolese authorities raided several of his properties and suspended his People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD). The justice ministry referred the case against the former president to the military courts, which in turn urged the Senate to lift his parliamentary immunity as an honorary senator for life. In a secret ballot late on Thursday the upper house -- dominated by Tshisekedi's ruling coalition -- overwhelmingly voted to strip him in a process questioned by constitutional experts. Kabila's party on Friday denounced the move to sideline Kabila as a "witch hunt". "Although he no longer has any institutional leverage, he is still a shadow power which the government is clearly trying to keep at bay," said Tresor Kibangula, political director at the Ebuteli research institute. Kinbangula however, cautioned that even given the current crisis "there is no strong popular nostalgia for Kabila in the country today". - 'Against the tide of history' - While he has given interviews since leaving office, Kabila had not addressed the Congolese people directly since his speech in 2019 on the eve of his handover to Tshisekedi. In his Friday address, Kabila argued he left the DRC in a far better state than when he took power in 2001 on the assassination of his father in the middle of the Second Congo War. "Barely six years after, this great inheritance... has been completely dilapidated," Kabila charged, accusing Tshisekedi of the desire to "concentrate power in the hands of one man". The justice system meanwhile, had become "an instrument of oppression for a dictatorship desperately trying to survive against the tide of history", he argued. Following the vote on his immunity, Kabila faces the prospect of prosecution on war crimes, crimes against humanity and treason charges. In large part, the case against him hinges on testimony by opposition figure Eric Nkuba, who when questioned claimed to have overheard Kabila advise the M23's leader to remove Tshisekedi by coup rather than by assassination.
Arabian Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Arabian Post
Kabila Stripped of Senate Immunity Amid Treason Allegations
The Democratic Republic of Congo's Senate has voted overwhelmingly to revoke former President Joseph Kabila's parliamentary immunity, paving the way for his prosecution on charges including treason, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The decision, passed with 88 votes in favour and five against, follows allegations that Kabila supported the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, which has intensified conflict in eastern Congo. Justice Minister Constant Mutamba announced that the government has gathered substantial evidence implicating Kabila in supporting the M23 insurgency, responsible for atrocities in the eastern regions. The M23 rebels, reportedly backed by Rwandan forces, have captured key cities such as Goma and Bukavu since January, leading to significant civilian casualties and displacement. Kabila, who served as president from 2001 to 2019, has denied the allegations. He has been residing in South Africa since late 2023 but expressed a desire to return to Congo to assist in resolving the ongoing crisis. His political party, the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy , was suspended last month, and authorities have moved to seize assets belonging to Kabila and other party leaders. ADVERTISEMENT The Senate's decision to lift Kabila's immunity marks a significant development in Congo's efforts to address impunity and hold former leaders accountable for their actions. The move has been welcomed by human rights organizations, which view it as a step towards justice for victims of the conflict. However, Kabila's allies have criticized the action as politically motivated, accusing President Félix Tshisekedi's administration of targeting the former president to eliminate political opposition.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DR Congo strips ex-leader of immunity over treason charges
The Democratic Republic of Congo's senate has stripped former President Joseph Kabila of his immunity, paving the way for his prosecution over his alleged backing of rebels in the east. Authorities have accused him of treason and war crimes, saying there was a "substantial body of documents, testimony and material facts" linking Kabila to the M23 armed group, which has taken control of several towns in the mineral-rich east. Kabila, 53, has not commented on the accusations but has in the past denied any connection with the insurgents. Nearly 90 senators on Thursday voted in favour of his treason prosecution, while five opposed it. "The senate authorises the prosecution and lifting of Joseph Kabila's immunity," declared senate Speaker Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde after Thursday's vote. The former president, who led the country between 2001 and 2019, did not appear before the senate to defend himself. After stepping down, he was given the title of "senator for life", which gives him legal immunity. PODCAST: Why are people talking about Kabila's return? What's the fighting in DR Congo all about? In order to pursue the charges against him, DR Congo's military prosecutor had asked the senate to lift this privilege. Kabila 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. A few weeks later, there were reports that the former president had come back and was in Goma, one of the cities captured by the M23. But these were denied by his political party, the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD). Last month, the authorities banned the PPRD because of its "ambiguous attitude" to the occupation of Congolese territory by the M23. Ordering the seizure of Kabila's assets, Justice Minister Mutamba said the former president should return to the country and "face justice... and present his defence". Analysts say any trial of Kabila could further destabilise the country, which has been battling the M23 rebellion since 2012. Kabila's party termed his prosecution "pure theatre" aimed at distracting Congolese people from the main challenges facing the country, AFP news agency reported. The evidence that shows Rwanda is backing rebels in DR Congo 'I risked drowning to flee conscription by Congolese rebels' Your phone, a rare metal and the war 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
Business Insider
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
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.
