DRC Suspends Ex-President Kabila’s Party, Seizes Assets Over Treason Allegations

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government has suspended the political party of former President Joseph Kabila, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), and ordered the seizure of his assets, accusing him of high treason due to alleged ties with the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group, Al Jazeera reports.

The Interior Ministry announced the suspension late Saturday, citing the PPRD’s “ambiguous attitude” towards the M23’s occupation of DRC territory. The M23 rebellion has reignited violence in the DRC’s mineral-rich eastern provinces, a region plagued by conflict stemming from the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the ongoing struggle for control of valuable resources. The fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands and claimed thousands of lives, according to the United Nations, with the M23 seizing control of key cities like Goma and Bukavu since the beginning of the year.

President Felix Tshisekedi has accused Kabila of plotting “an insurrection” and supporting an alliance that includes the M23. In a separate statement, the Justice Ministry stated that Kabila and other party leaders’ assets would be seized following accusations of acts amounting to high treason. Prosecutors have been instructed to initiate proceedings against him, although no specific details regarding the accusations have been disclosed, and formal charges have yet to be filed.

While there has been no direct response from Kabila himself, who governed the DRC from 2001 to 2019, his spokesperson Barbara Nzimbi stated on X that the former president would address the nation “in the coming hours or days.” PPRD secretary Ferdinand Kambere told Reuters that the suspension constitutes “a flagrant violation” of the DRC’s constitution.

The move to suspend Kabila’s party follows reports of his recent return to the DRC after a two-year period spent in South Africa. He had departed the country prior to the 2023 presidential election. The Interior Ministry claims he traveled to Goma, although independent confirmation of his presence is lacking.

Kabila, a former military officer, ascended to power at the young age of 29 after the assassination of his father, Laurent-Desire Kabila, during the Second Congo War. He secured election victories in 2006 and 2011, elections marred by allegations of fraud and human rights abuses. Following two years of deadly protests and growing international pressure, he peacefully transferred power to Felix Tshisekedi in 2019 – a transition celebrated as the country’s first peaceful handover of power since its independence in 1960.

Earlier this month, Kabila stated his return was motivated by a desire to assist in resolving the country’s political and security crisis. In an interview with Jeune Afrique, he expressed hope to “play a role in seeking a solution after six years of complete retreat and one year in exile.”

The suspension of Kabila’s party coincides with the postponement of peace talks between the DRC government and M23 rebels, which were scheduled to take place in April. The UN and several regional governments have accused Rwanda of supporting the M23, an allegation vehemently denied by Rwandan President Paul Kagame.