Kabund, a supporter of the previous president and opposition leader, is freed by Congo

Jean-Marc Kabund, a former right-hand man of the president and an opposition leader, was released by the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Friday, according to his attorney, ending his incarceration on accusations of contempt of the head of state.

After a falling out with President Felix Tshisekedi in 2022, the former congressman and vice president of parliament started his own political party. In August of that year, he was taken into custody and given a seven-year jail term.

Ghislain Mwanji, his attorney, told Reuters Kabund was free but did not elaborate. His release was also approved by the justice ministry.

A spokesman for the president’s office said that Kabund had been pardoned by the president.

His release coincides with growing pressure on Kinshasa’s authorities over a fight in eastern regions with rebels backed by Rwanda, whose recent conquest of two key cities has stoked concerns of a regional war.

Some members of the squabbling opposition have publicly predicted that Tshisekedi’s president will not continue, sparking open discussion about his capacity to manage the political and security situation.

Kabund played a key role in Tshisekedi’s ascent to power, and their aftermath exposed new weaknesses in the nation’s leadership.

He said in 2022 that the lawsuit against him was evidence of the use of Congolese institutions for political ends.

His imprisonment was mentioned at the time by Human Rights Watch as evidence of the administration’s increasing intolerance for dissident opinions.