Congo accuses former President Kabila of war crimes and attempts to revoke his immunity

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has begun the process of removing former President Joseph Kabila’s immunity in order to put him on trial for allegedly aiding the M23 insurrection in the east of the nation, where the government is attempting to negotiate a peace agreement this week.

Kabila has been abroad since late 2023, primarily in South Africa, having agreed to resign in 2018 after nearly 20 years in office. In the east, where M23 rebels supported by Rwanda have taken control of sizable swaths of territory this year, he declared last month that he will return to assist in finding a solution.

Kabila has denied aiding the rebels, and his return to the country might complicate a U.S.-backed effort to put an end to the rebellion in eastern Congo, which is home to valuable minerals that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is eager to help mine.

In Kinshasa on Wednesday night, Justice Minister Constant Mutamba informed reporters that the attorney general of the Congolese army had requested that the Senate of Congo remove Kabila’s lifelong protection from prosecution as a senator.

According to Mutamba, Congo has gathered convincing proof of “war crimes, crimes against humanity, and massacres of peaceful civilians and military personnel,” and Kabila should either return to the country to face justice or face being tried in absentia.

In an agreement struck in Washington on April 25, Congo and Rwanda agreed to stop military assistance to armed groups and to write a peace pact by May 2.

On Thursday, there remained uncertainty about the terms and if anything would be available for signature by Friday.

Following his father’s murder in 2001, Kabila assumed control. He agreed to step down after an election in 2018 after refusing to resign when his last term formally ended in 2016, sparking fatal protests.

His political party was suspended by the interior ministry last month, and the justice ministry declared that it would seize Kabila’s and party leaders’ assets.

Kabila’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy’s permanent secretary, Ferdinand Kambere, claimed that the government’s attempt to remove Kabila’s immunity demonstrated their dread of his return. He said the eastern conflict was brought on by Kabila’s opponent, President Felix Tshisekedi.