DR Congo's parliament votes to lift immunity of former President Joseph Kabila

Published on 23/05/2025 - 18:07 GMT+2

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) parliament has voted to assistance erstwhile President Joseph Kabila's immunity complete his alleged support of nan M23 rebels successful nan eastbound of nan country.

Kabila, who ruled nan African federation betwixt 2001 and 2019, has denied nan allegations.

In a concealed ballot precocious connected Thursday, politicians decided by 88 votes to 5 to rescind nan life immunity Kabila enjoyed arsenic an honorary senator.

The move leaves nan erstwhile president unfastened to prosecution, thing that nan DRC's subject lawyer wide had sought.

Kabila is accused of "treason, warfare crimes, crimes against humanity and information successful an insurrectional movement" successful nan country's east, Justice Minister Constant Mutamba said.

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi alleged past twelvemonth that Kabila was helping nan rebels to hole an insurrection.

Last month, nan country's authorities acted against Kabila by moving to suspend his People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) and to prehend nan assets of its leaders.

The PPRD has called nan targeting of Kabila "pure theatre," claiming nan authorities intends to usage his prosecution to distract nan nationalist from nan existent challenges nan state faces.

Kabila, who has lived for nan past 2 years successful South Africa, announced he would beryllium stepping down aft wide protests successful nan DRC successful 2018.

The erstwhile president, who became nan DRC's leader astatine conscionable 29 pursuing nan assassination of his father, has expressed a desire to extremity nan conflict successful nan east, wherever astir 100 equipped groups are vying for power of mineral resources.

The M23 rebels, who are said to beryllium supported by 4,000 troops from Rwanda, gained territory successful nan region successful January, capturing nan cardinal metropolis of Goma.

They later besides took nan area's 2nd largest city, Bukavu.

Both nan Congolese service and nan rebels person been accused of crimes successful nan war-torn east.

Despite agreeing earlier this period to activity towards a truce, nan DRC's service and nan M23 rebels proceed to conflict successful nan eastbound South-Kivu province.