Former Congolese President Joseph Kabila has lashed out at the government of Félix Tshisekedi, labelling it a “dictatorship” after losing his parliamentary immunity.
In a rare live-streamed address on Friday, Kabila denounced the Senate’s decision to strip him of immunity, opening the door to possible prosecution for alleged ties to the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.
Kabila dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, accusing the current administration of acting on “rumours from the street and social networks” regarding his presence in Goma.
He declared plans to visit the eastern city soon — now controlled by M23 — and condemned what he called Kinshasa’s “arbitrary decisions” as proof of the country’s democratic decline.
Tshisekedi has repeatedly accused Kabila of conspiring with M23 to destabilise the eastern region, describing him as the group’s covert backer and architect of its territorial gains.
Eastern DRC has endured over three decades of violence, with M23’s resurgence in 2021 reigniting fears of prolonged instability.
Since January 2025, the rebel group has taken control of major eastern cities, including Goma and Bukavu, and established de facto governance structures.
Though largely absent from public life since leaving office in 2019, Kabila retains political clout and, according to analysts, remains an influential figure behind the scenes.
His April announcement of a political return sparked unease in government circles, despite no confirmed sightings or evidence of his return to M23-held areas.
Following his statement, Congolese authorities raided several Kabila-linked properties and suspended his political party, prompting accusations of a “witch hunt.”
“Kabila remains a shadow power the government is eager to neutralise,” said Tresor Kibangula of the Ebuteli research institute.
The standoff marks a dangerous flashpoint in an already volatile political and security landscape.
