The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has formally requested the removal of parliamentary immunity for former President Joseph Kabila, a move that could lead to his prosecution on charges including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and support for armed rebellion. Justice Minister Constant Mutamba announced that the military prosecutor had submitted a request to the Senate, where Kabila holds a lifetime seat as a former head of state. The government claims it possesses evidence linking Kabila to the M23 rebel group, which has been accused of atrocities and mass displacement in North Kivu.
Kabila, who ruled from 2001 to 2019, has been living in South Africa since late 2023 but recently signaled his intention to return and help resolve the eastern crisis. He has denied all charges, calling them baseless and politically motivated. The move comes amid peace talks between the DRC and Rwanda, which the government also accuses of backing M23. A U.S.-mediated peace agreement is expected by May 2, adding urgency to the government’s actions. Meanwhile, authorities have suspended Kabila’s political party, the PPRD, and threatened asset seizures from his associates.
The political fallout has been swift. Ferdinand Kambere, the PPRD’s permanent secretary, accused President Félix Tshisekedi of using legal instruments to suppress political opposition and deflect blame for the deepening eastern conflict, which has left over 3,000 dead and nearly 7 million displaced since early 2025. If the Senate approves the immunity lift, it could pave the way for the first prosecution of a former Congolese president for war crimes—an unprecedented moment in the DRC’s post-conflict justice efforts and a potential milestone in the fight against impunity and armed group sponsorship.
