Former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila has resurfaced in the M23 rebel-held city of Goma, a development coinciding with the DRC Senate’s vote to strip him of his immunity.
This decision opens the door for potential prosecution on serious charges, including treason and supporting the M23 rebels, amidst ongoing conflict in the eastern DRC.
Kabila’s presence in Goma, after more than a year in exile, has intensified political scrutiny and debate over his future role.
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Immunity Stripped Amidst Treason Allegations
The Senate’s move to lift the former president’s immunity, by a decisive vote of 88 to five, followed a formal request from the army’s public prosecutor, as reported by France24. The government, under President Félix Tshisekedi, accuses Kabila of conspiring with the Rwanda-backed M23 group, which has recently seized significant territory in the nation’s east. These are claims Kabila has consistently denied, dismissing them as politically motivated. He, in turn, has criticised the current administration, accusing it of developing into a “dictatorship backed by parliament”.
Despite the grave accusations and the threat of prosecution, some local figures see a potential peace-brokering role for the former leader. During his appearance in Goma, Kabila met with local religious leaders. These leaders have reportedly urged Kabila to act as a mediator to help restore peace in the volatile region.
Bishop Joël Amurani was quoted by Africanews, stating, “As religious leaders, we told him to play the role of arbiter so that peace would return.” This aligns with reports suggesting Kabila aims to position himself as an essential intermediary for dialogue with both the opposition and rebel factions.
His reappearance has elicited varied responses from Goma residents. Amani Safari, a local gas seller, told Africanews, “His arrival in Goma is good… For us to have peace, we must go through him because he has a very good grasp of the problems the Congolese face.” Conversely, others, like Alexis Bauma, expressed scepticism: “I don’t think Kabila can end the war… He was president of this country a long time ago but he didn’t succeed.”
Kabila, who governed the DRC from 2001 to 2019, was not present for the Senate vote. The lifting of his honourific title of senator for life, and the associated parliamentary immunity, now exposes him to potential trial in military courts for charges including “treason, war crimes, crimes against humanity and participation in an insurrectionary movement”.
The army’s case for this action reportedly hinged significantly on testimony from an opposition figure, Eric Nkuba. Nkuba claimed to have overheard Kabila advising the M23’s leader to remove President Tshisekedi via a coup, although this confession was allegedly extracted under duress. The situation in eastern DRC remains fraught, with ongoing clashes complicating any immediate peace initiatives.
Image: Former DRC president Joseph Kabila. Credit: BBC.
