The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended the political party of former President Joseph Kabila and ordered the seizure of his assets due to allegations of his support for Rwandan-backed rebels in the eastern region, according to official statements.
Kabila, who served as president from 2001 to 2019 and only resigned following violent protests, has expressed a desire to return to Congo to help find a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
In announcements made late Saturday, the interior ministry indicated that Kabila’s party was suspended for its support of the M23 rebels. Additionally, the justice ministry stated that the assets of Kabila and other party leaders would be confiscated due to actions deemed as high treason.
Both ministries confirmed that prosecutors have been directed to begin legal proceedings against Kabila, although specific details regarding the allegations were not disclosed.
See more: Minister Accused of Starlink Favoritism
Kabila has not yet responded to these developments.
Ferdinand Kambere, the secretary of Kabila’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, described the suspension as a blatant violation of the constitution and laws of Congo in a statement to Reuters.
Since the beginning of the year, the M23 rebels have captured two significant cities in the mineral-rich eastern region, which has been plagued by decades of conflict stemming from the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the competition for mineral resources.
Kabila ascended to power following the assassination of his father and resisted leaving office when his final term ended in 2016. He ultimately agreed to step down and has since resided in various African countries.
