DR Congo authorities suspend former President Kabila’s party
Kabila, who served as president for 18 years until 2019, still leads the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD).
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has announced the suspension of the political party led by former president Joseph Kabila, just days after security forces conducted raids on his properties.
According to a statement from the interior ministry issued on Saturday, the decision was made due to Kabila's "overt activism."
Kabila, who served as president for 18 years until 2019, still leads the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD).
The statement further clarified that all activities related to the PPRD are now suspended throughout the entire country.
There has been no immediate response from Joseph Kabila's party regarding the suspension.
President Felix Tshisekedi has accused Kabila of preparing "an insurrection" and of supporting an alliance that includes the M23 rebel group, which has been clashing with government forces in eastern DR Congo.
Kabila, 53, left the country before the 2023 presidential elections, according to a family spokesperson.
However, in early April, he indicated he would return at an unspecified time, citing the country’s perilous state.
There are unverified reports suggesting he may have already arrived or is about to arrive in the eastern city of Goma.
The spokesperson revealed on Thursday that security forces had raided Kabila's main property, a farm east of Kinshasa, and another family compound in the capital.
The interior ministry’s statement accused Kabila's party of remaining "guilty, or even complicit, silent" regarding the ongoing "Rwandan war of aggression."
UN experts and several international entities have accused Rwanda of backing the M23 group, although Rwanda denies these allegations.
The M23 group, which has captured major cities like Goma and Bukavu, has been central to the recent surge in conflict in the region.
The statement also criticized Kabila's "ambiguous attitude" toward the M23 rebellion, highlighting his failure to condemn the group’s actions.
Furthermore, the government criticized Kabila's "deliberate choice" to enter the country through Goma, a city controlled by the rebel group.
A separate statement from the justice ministry mentioned that the chief prosecutor had been instructed to initiate legal proceedings against Kabila for his "direct participation" in M23.