The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Senate has voted to remove former President Joseph Kabila’s legal immunity, paving the way for possible prosecution on charges of treason and war crimes tied to alleged support for rebel forces in the country’s east.
Authorities accuse Kabila, 53, of backing the M23 rebel group, which has taken control of several towns in the mineral-rich eastern provinces. Prosecutors cite what they call a “substantial body of documents, testimony, and evidence” connecting him to the insurgents.
Kabila has yet to publicly address these latest accusations, though he has previously denied any links to the rebels. On Thursday, nearly 90 senators voted to lift his immunity, with only five opposing. Kabila did not appear before the Senate to contest the motion.
Since stepping down in 2019, Kabila has held the lifetime position of “senator for life,” granting him immunity from prosecution. The Senate’s move followed a formal request by the military prosecutor’s office to proceed with charges.
Kabila has been based in South Africa since 2023, officially for academic pursuits. In early April, he announced plans to return home to help resolve the ongoing eastern conflict. Unconfirmed reports later claimed he had already arrived in Goma, an M23-controlled city, though his party, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), denied these claims.
Last month, the government banned the PPRD, accusing it of maintaining an “ambiguous stance” toward the M23’s occupation of Congolese territory. Following the Senate’s decision, the party denounced the prosecution effort as “political theatre,” accusing the government of using it to distract from deeper national problems.
