The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has suspended the political party of former President Joseph Kabila, accusing it of supporting the M23 rebel group operating in the country’s eastern region. The government has also ordered the seizure of Kabila’s and other party leaders’ assets, citing acts of high treason.
The Ministry of the Interior announced the suspension, stating that Kabila’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) had been aiding the M23 rebels. The Ministry of Justice confirmed the seizure of assets and instructed prosecutors to initiate legal proceedings against Kabila and his associates. Specific details of the allegations have not been disclosed.
Kabila, who ruled the DRC from 2001 to 2019, has expressed interest in returning to the country to help resolve the ongoing conflict. He has been living abroad since stepping down after mass protests in 2019.
Ferdinand Kambere, secretary of Kabila’s PPRD, condemned the suspension, calling it a violation of the DRC’s constitution and laws. He described the government’s actions as politically motivated.
The M23 rebels have captured two major cities in the mineral-rich eastern DRC since the beginning of 2025. The region has experienced decades of conflict, with tensions rooted in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and competition for control of valuable mineral resources.
The government’s decision to suspend Kabila’s party has intensified political tensions in the DRC, raising concerns about the potential for further instability in the already volatile eastern region.
For more details, you can read the full article on Nation Africa: Congo suspends former president Joseph Kabila’s political party.
