KINSHASA, DR CONGO — The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has taken significant action against the political party of former President Joseph Kabila, suspending the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) and ordering the seizure of his assets. The government accuses the 53-year-old former leader of high treason due to alleged connections with the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group.
In a statement issued late on Saturday, the DRC’s Interior Ministry announced the suspension of Kabila’s PPRD, citing its “ambiguous attitude” towards the M23’s occupation of Congolese territory. The M23 rebellion has reignited a violent conflict in the DRC’s mineral-rich eastern provinces, a region plagued by decades of instability stemming from the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the ongoing struggle for control over valuable mineral resources.
The United Nations reports that the persistent fighting has resulted in the deaths of thousands and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Since the beginning of the year, the M23 has also seized control of two significant cities in the east: Goma and Bukavu.
DRC President Felix Tshisekedi has accused his predecessor, Kabila, of orchestrating “an insurrection” and supporting an alliance that includes the M23. In a separate statement, the DRC’s Justice Ministry declared that the assets of Kabila and other key party leaders would be seized following actions deemed to constitute high treason.
Both government statements indicated that prosecutors have been instructed to initiate legal proceedings against Kabila, although specific details regarding the accusations were not provided. It is understood that no formal charges have been filed at this time. There has been no immediate public response from Kabila, who governed the DRC from 2001 to 2019.
However, his spokesperson, Barbara Nzimbi, stated on X that the former president would address the nation “in the coming hours or days”. PPRD secretary Ferdinand Kambere told the Reuters news agency that the party’s suspension amounted to “a flagrant violation” of the DRC’s constitution.
The move to suspend Kabila’s political organization follows reports of his return to the DRC after a two-year stay in South Africa. Kabila had departed the DRC prior to the last presidential election in 2023.
According to the Interior Ministry, Kabila has traveled to Goma, although independent confirmation of his presence there is currently lacking. Kabila, a former military officer, ascended to power at the age of 29 following the assassination of his father, Laurent-Desire Kabila, during the Second Congo War.
His victories in the 2006 and 2011 elections were marred by widespread allegations of fraud and human rights abuses. After two years of intense protests and increasing international pressure, he transferred power to Felix Tshisekedi in 2019 – a transition widely celebrated as the country’s first peaceful handover of power since its independence in 1960.
Earlier this month, Kabila stated that his return was motivated by a desire to contribute to resolving the nation’s ongoing political and security crisis. In an interview with Jeune Afrique, he expressed his hope to “play a role in seeking a solution after six years of complete retreat and one year in exile”.
The suspension of Kabila’s party occurred at a time when peace talks between the DRC government and M23 rebels, initially scheduled for April, were postponed.
The UN and several regional governments have accused Rwanda of providing support to the M23 – an accusation that Rwandan President Paul Kagame has vehemently denied.
