The Democratic Republic of Congo has banned former President Joseph Kabila’s political party, accusing it of links to the M23 rebel group that has taken control of large parts of eastern DR Congo this year.
The move follows reports that Kabila returned to the country after two years in South Africa, allegedly reappearing in Goma—an eastern city seized by the Rwandan-backed rebels in January.
The interior ministry said all activities of Kabila’s party, the PPRD, were suspended due to its “ambiguous attitude” toward the M23 occupation.
It also pointed to Kabila’s presence in Goma, where he is reportedly protected by what the government called the “enemy.” The PPRD has not responded publicly.
On Friday, Congolese authorities accused Kabila of high treason and ordered the seizure of his property.
Kabila, who has previously denied ties to M23, has not commented on the new allegations or confirmed his presence in Goma. His spokesperson said he would address the nation soon.
Kabila led DR Congo from 2001—after the assassination of his father, Laurent Kabila—until 2019, when he handed over power to Félix Tshisekedi after a disputed election.
The PPRD initially entered a coalition with Tshisekedi’s party, but that alliance broke down in 2020.
Kabila left the country in 2023 to study in South Africa, where he completed a doctoral thesis at the University of Johannesburg in January 2024.
In a recent interview with Jeune Afrique, he said he intended to return to help resolve DR Congo’s political and security crisis.
Some observers say his comeback has deeper symbolism. Corneille Nangaa, the head of the political grouping allied with M23, was once a close Kabila ally.
Political economist Ben Radley also noted parallels with Laurent Kabila’s eastern insurgency route to power in the late 1990s.
Senior PPRD officials deny that Kabila is currently in Goma. The M23 has not confirmed or denied his presence there.