The Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended the political party of former President Joseph Kabila and ordered the freezing of assets belonging to him and key allies, amid serious accusations of supporting the M23 rebel movement operating in the country’s troubled eastern region.
In coordinated statements released by the interior and justice ministries late Saturday, authorities alleged that Kabila’s People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) provided backing to the M23 insurgents—an action the government equated to high treason. The justice ministry confirmed that prosecutors have been directed to begin formal legal proceedings, although no specific details of the accusations were disclosed.
Kabila, who led the country for 18 years following the 2001 assassination of his father, has recently signaled intentions to return to Congolese politics, claiming a desire to help resolve the ongoing conflict. His silence following the government’s announcement has raised questions, while senior members of his party have strongly rejected the allegations.
“This is a flagrant violation of our constitution and national laws,” said Ferdinand Kambere, the PPRD’s secretary. “We see this as a political move to silence dissent.”
Eastern DR Congo has seen a sharp escalation in violence this year, with M23 rebels seizing control of two major cities. The mineral-rich region has long been plagued by conflict, much of it rooted in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide in neighboring Rwanda and persistent battles over control of lucrative resources.
Kabila’s tenure was marked by prolonged conflict and political tension. After refusing to step down when his final term expired in 2016, he ultimately ceded power in 2019 under mounting public pressure. Since then, he has lived outside the country, making only rare public appearances.
This latest move by the Congolese government signals deepening political fault lines in a country still struggling to stabilize its eastern frontier and heal from decades of unrest.