The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is seeking to strip former President Joseph Kabila of his immunity in order to prosecute him for alleged involvement in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and treason linked to rebel activity in the country’s eastern region.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday evening in Kinshasa, Justice Minister Constant Mutamba revealed that the Senate has been formally requested to revoke Kabila’s legal protection, which shields him from prosecution due to his former status as president and current role as senator for life.
Mutamba said there is “strong evidence” connecting Kabila to atrocities committed in the conflict-ridden east, including massacres of civilians and military personnel. He also cited the former leader’s alleged backing of the M23 rebel group, which has been active in the eastern provinces.
Kabila, who governed the DRC from 2001 to 2019, is now accused of participating in an insurrectional movement and supporting destabilization efforts against the government. President Felix Tshisekedi previously alleged that Kabila was collaborating with M23 rebels to plan an uprising—an accusation the ex-president has consistently denied.
After stepping down in 2019, Kabila remained largely absent from the public scene but returned to the DRC last month after a prolonged absence. He reportedly visited Goma, a rebel-held eastern city, with intentions to “contribute to peace efforts,” according to his allies.
The eastern DRC has been gripped by renewed violence since January, with M23 rebels capturing key cities like Goma and Bukavu. The fighting has claimed over 3,000 lives and displaced nearly seven million people, worsening the region’s humanitarian crisis.
The M23, one of over 200 armed groups operating in the mineral-rich area near the Rwandan border, is alleged by UN experts to receive support from an estimated 4,000 Rwandan soldiers. Despite a recent truce agreement between the DRC military and M23, clashes continue, especially in South Kivu province.
Reacting to the justice minister’s announcement, Ferdinand Kambere, deputy secretary-general of Kabila’s People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, dismissed the move as politically motivated persecution.
“These actions by the current regime are not just attempts to humiliate or intimidate the former president—they reveal desperation. It’s a sign that their time in power is coming to an end,” Kambere told The Associated Press.
The legal push marks a dramatic escalation in tensions between the current government and the Kabila camp, as the DRC continues to grapple with deep political divisions and escalating violence in its eastern provinces.
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