Former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila made an unexpected return to the country on Thursday, arriving in the eastern city of Goma, now under the control of the M23 rebel group. His appearance came amid mounting political and legal pressure, including allegations of treason and possible prosecution over his alleged links to the rebels.
Kabila, who was president from 2001 to 2019, appeared calm and confident as he met with local religious leaders in Goma. Witnesses noted that M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka was also present at the meeting. Although Kabila did not speak publicly, his presence alone has provoked strong reactions, given that the city was seized by M23 fighters in a swift military offensive earlier this year.
The visit comes amid escalating tensions between Kabila and current President Félix Tshisekedi. The incumbent president accuses Kabila of being the mastermind behind the M23 offensive that seized several key regions in the conflict-torn east. Although Kabila left the DRC in 2023, his political influence is still important.
Kabila’s return comes after a series of government actions targeting him and his party. In April, shortly after Kabila announced plans to return, authorities suspended his political party and raided multiple properties linked to him. The Justice Ministry later referred his case to military courts, alleging complicity with the M23 and seeking prosecution for treason, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Earlier this month, the Senate, dominated by Tshisekedi’s coalition, voted to strip Kabila of his lifetime immunity as a senator, paving the way for legal action against him.
Kabila broke his silence in response, accusing the government of authoritarianism and condemning the move as politically motivated. He vowed to travel to Goma to end the ongoing conflict.
Despite the lack of a formal alliance, a member of Kabila’s entourage admitted to AFP that his party and M23 have a common goal: to end Tshisekedi’s presidency. During Thursday’s appearance, Kabila, now clean-shaven and dressed in a dark suit, was protected by M23 fighters and his personal security detail.
He returns at a sensitive time as the DRC government holds diplomatic talks with Rwanda and the United States aimed at de-escalating the conflict in the east. The region has been plagued by more than three decades of armed violence, fuelled by renewed instability since 2021 by the resurgence of M23.
Observers are closely watching what Kabila’s reemergence means for the fragile political and security environment in the DRC.