Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are seeking to lift the legal immunity of former President Joseph Kabila, accusing him of supporting the M23 rebel group currently active in the country’s conflict-ridden east.
Justice Minister Constant Mutamba announced on Wednesday that there is a “substantial body of documents, testimony, and material facts” linking Kabila to the M23—a powerful armed group that has seized swathes of territory in the mineral-rich eastern region this year.
Kabila, 53, has not responded to the latest allegations but has previously denied any ties to the insurgents.
After serving as president for 18 years—having succeeded his father, Laurent Kabila, who was assassinated in 2001—Joseph Kabila was granted the title of “senator for life,” a position that confers legal immunity. In order to pursue charges, the DRC’s military prosecutor has formally requested that the senate revoke this status.
Kabila has been living in South Africa since 2023, citing academic pursuits. Earlier this year, he completed a doctoral thesis on African geopolitical relations with the U.S., China, and Russia at the University of Johannesburg.
In early April, Kabila announced his intention to return to Congo to help resolve the crisis in the east. Reports later emerged claiming he had returned and was in Goma, a city recently captured by M23 rebels. However, his party—the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD)—denied these reports.
Tensions between the former president and the current administration have escalated. Last month, the government banned the PPRD, accusing it of showing an “ambiguous attitude” toward the rebel occupation. Justice Minister Mutamba also ordered the seizure of Kabila’s assets and called on him to return to the DRC to “face justice and present his defence.”
Efforts to end the conflict in eastern DRC are ongoing. A preliminary peace agreement was signed last week between the DRC and Rwanda—long accused by Kinshasa of backing the M23, an allegation Kigali denies. Both sides aim to finalize a draft peace deal by Friday.
Who is Joseph Kabila?
Joseph Kabila assumed the presidency at the age of 29 following his father’s assassination in 2001. He won two subsequent elections, but his refusal to step down at the end of his second term in 2016 sparked widespread protests and unrest. He remained in office until 2019, when Félix Tshisekedi was declared the winner of a disputed election. Many observers believed opposition candidate Martin Fayulu had won.
Though Kabila initially formed a coalition with Tshisekedi, the alliance collapsed in 2020, deepening the political divide. He departed the DRC in 2023 to pursue academic studies.
