Former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila has returned to the country after two years, arriving in the M23 rebel-controlled city of Goma. His visit comes amid serious accusations linking him to the Rwanda-backed rebel group, which he denies.
Kabila lost his presidential immunity after the Senate accused him of supporting M23, which has seized parts of eastern Congo. The government alleges he is tied to war crimes and treason, citing extensive evidence. Kabila has dismissed the claims, saying the judiciary is being used for political attacks.
Local youth leaders from his party, the PPRD, welcomed his return, describing it as a father returning home. Rebel spokespeople also praised his arrival in the “liberated” areas.
Kabila, who ruled for 18 years before handing power to Félix Tshisekedi in 2019, has criticized the current government as dictatorial and accused it of eroding democracy.
The M23 conflict, which reignited in 2021, has intensified this year, with the group capturing Goma and displacing hundreds of thousands. Kabila had been living in South Africa and recently pledged to help resolve the crisis.
