Former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila has made his first appearance in the country after two years of self-imposed exile, landing in Goma, a city held by rebel forces. Kabila, who governed from 2001 to 2019, was recently stripped of his immunity by senators amid allegations of supporting the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group in its ongoing fight against the Congolese army.
Kabila has denied any connection to the M23 and criticized the country’s justice system, claiming it is being misused for political purposes. Innocent Mirimo, a youth leader from Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), expressed excitement over Kabila's return, likening it to a father returning to his children.
Despite opposition from the Congolese government, which accuses Kabila of treason and war crimes linked to the M23, rebel spokesmen have welcomed him. The PPRD has faced restrictions in Kinshasa for allegedly having a questionable stance towards the M23's advances.
In a now-deleted video, Kabila labeled the current government as a "dictatorship" and warned of declining democracy. Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya dismissed Kabila's claims as lacking substance.
The conflict in eastern Congo has reignited since the M23 resumed hostilities in 2021, resulting in significant civilian displacement. Kabila's return poses pivotal questions about the future of democracy and stability in the region as he ventures home in hopes of aiding conflict resolution.
Kabila has denied any connection to the M23 and criticized the country’s justice system, claiming it is being misused for political purposes. Innocent Mirimo, a youth leader from Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), expressed excitement over Kabila's return, likening it to a father returning to his children.
Despite opposition from the Congolese government, which accuses Kabila of treason and war crimes linked to the M23, rebel spokesmen have welcomed him. The PPRD has faced restrictions in Kinshasa for allegedly having a questionable stance towards the M23's advances.
In a now-deleted video, Kabila labeled the current government as a "dictatorship" and warned of declining democracy. Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya dismissed Kabila's claims as lacking substance.
The conflict in eastern Congo has reignited since the M23 resumed hostilities in 2021, resulting in significant civilian displacement. Kabila's return poses pivotal questions about the future of democracy and stability in the region as he ventures home in hopes of aiding conflict resolution.
