The Democratic Republic of Congo's senate has stripped former President Joseph Kabila of his immunity, enabling potential prosecution over allegations of treason and war crimes. Authorities have implicated Kabila, who led the country from 2001 to 2019, in supporting the M23 armed group, which is active in eastern Congo. The senate's decision was overwhelmingly supported, with nearly 90 senators voting for the charges and only five against. Senate Speaker Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde confirmed the lifting of Kabila's legal protections.
Kabila, aged 53, has remained silent on the recent allegations, although he has denied any links to the insurgents in the past. Following his presidency, Kabila was granted the title of "senator for life," providing him with certain legal immunities. However, the military prosecutor's request led to the current senate vote.
Kabila has been residing in South Africa for the last two years, but he expressed intentions to return to Congo to assist in resolving the ongoing conflict in the east. Reports surfaced recently claiming he had returned to Goma, a city overtaken by M23 forces; however, his political party, the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), refuted these claims.
In response to the senate's decision, Justice Minister Mutamba ordered the seizure of Kabila's assets and insisted he must come back to face justice. Political analysts warn that a trial for Kabila could exacerbate instability in a nation already grappling with the M23 rebellion since 2012. Meanwhile, Kabila's party has characterized the prosecution as a diversion from more pressing national concerns, dubbing it "pure theatre."
