Officials from the political party of former President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo have been summoned to meet with a military prosecutor on Monday, reflecting rising political tensions due to the advances of Rwanda-supported rebels in the eastern region.
The specific reasons for the summons were unclear, according to Jean Mbuyu, a lawyer representing the officials and a former security advisor to Kabila.
However, President Felix Tshisekedi, who previously had a challenging power-sharing arrangement with Kabila, has recently alleged that Kabila is backing the M23 rebels, who have taken control of the two largest cities in eastern Congo since January.
Amid criticisms of Tshisekedi’s handling of the M23 military offensive, Kabila has been reaching out to opposition leaders and civil society representatives to discuss the political future of the country.
The military prosecutor’s office issued approximately 10 invitation letters to members of Kabila’s People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, but only three individuals were anticipated to show up for questioning in the capital, Kinshasa, on Monday, Mbuyu stated.
Those expected to attend included Aubin Minaku, the party’s vice president and former president of the National Assembly, along with Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a former interior minister and presidential contender, as noted by Mbuyu.
“We’re going to attend because the invitation does not specify a reason,” he mentioned.
Minaku stated that the officials would comply with the invitations “to avoid any suspicion” and denied any connections to M23 or other militant groups.
“We are approaching this from a purely republican standpoint, not a rebellious one,” he conveyed to Reuters, using “republican” to signify allegiance to the nation.
“We have categorically condemned any unlawful presence of foreign forces,” he affirmed.
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The latest M23 offensive represents the most serious escalation in a long-standing conflict stemming from the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the battle for control over Congo’s extensive mineral wealth.
Rwanda, on its part, disclaims providing weaponry and soldiers to M23, asserting instead that its military is acting in self-defense against the Congolese army and militias viewed as threats to Kigali.
