The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has initiated steps to revoke the legal immunity of former President Joseph Kabila, accusing him of supporting the M23 rebel group and conspiring to incite an insurrection against the state.
According to Justice Minister Constant Mutamba, the government has submitted a formal request to the Senate, where Kabila currently holds the lifelong status of senator, urging lawmakers to authorize his prosecution. This move follows what Mutamba described as “compelling and irrefutable evidence” linking Kabila to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the massacre of civilians during the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC.
President Felix Tshisekedi has alleged that Kabila is part of a coalition backing the M23 rebel group, which has been involved in fierce clashes with national forces and has taken control of key cities including Goma and Bukavu in recent months. The group is widely believed—by Kinshasa, the United Nations, and multiple international observers—to receive support from Rwanda.
Due to Kabila’s current senatorial status, he is protected by legal immunity. However, the Justice Ministry has tasked the general auditor of the armed forces with officially petitioning the Senate to strip Kabila of this protection. If granted, Kabila would face trial before the High Military Court.
While the Tshisekedi-led Senate reviews the request, international stakeholders continue to urge for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy to resolve the worsening conflict in the east.
Kabila, who has been living in South Africa since the 2023 elections, recently announced intentions to return to the DRC to contribute to resolving the security crisis. Meanwhile, the government has suspended his political party, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), citing its silence amid the M23’s recent territorial advances.
