DR Congo Senate Receives Request to Lift Former President Joseph Kabila's Immunity Over M23 Rebels Ties
Event Details:
DR Congo Senate Receives Request to Lift Former President Joseph Kabila’s Immunity Over M23 Rebel Ties
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Senate has officially received a request to lift the judicial immunity of former President Joseph Kabila Kabange, following serious allegations linking him to the M23, which controls several key areas in the country’s conflict-ridden east.
Senate President Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde made the announcement during a plenary session on Friday, confirming that the request was submitted by the Auditor General at the Military Court in a letter dated April 30.
The letter calls for authorization to initiate legal proceedings against Kabila, who, since stepping down in 2019 after 18 years in power, has held the status of senator for life—granting him immunity from prosecution.
Kabila, now 53, is accused of having ties with the M23, a claim that has sparked fresh political tensions in Kinshasa.
“There is a substantial body of documents, testimonies, and material evidence linking Mr. Kabila to the M23 armed group,” Justice Minister Constant Mutamba said earlier this week, fueling controversy over the former leader’s possible involvement in the crisis destabilizing the eastern provinces.
This isn’t the only judicial request facing the Senate.
On April 28, the Senate president’s office also received a separate letter from the Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation, dated March 27, seeking permission to investigate Senator Lingepo Michel in a separate case.
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Kabila has so far remained silent on the latest developments.
While he has consistently denied any association with rebel groups in the past, his reported presence in Goma—one of the cities overtaken by M23 forces—has reignited suspicion.
His party, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), has firmly denied these claims, calling them politically motivated.
The PPRD itself has come under increasing scrutiny.
Last month, it was officially banned by Congolese authorities, accused of maintaining an “ambiguous stance” toward the occupation of national territory by armed rebels.
Senate President Lukonde assured lawmakers and the public that both judicial requisitions will be handled “in accordance with the Constitution and the Senate’s internal regulations.”
The unprecedented move to potentially strip a former president of immunity could trigger a political storm and fuel conflict in the country.Use
Date and Timings:
03-05-2025 11:11 AM to 03-05-2025 11:16 AM
