KABILA'S POLITICAL PARTY BANNED, ASSETS SEIZED IN CONGO

Kinshasa, DRC — The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended the political party of former President Joseph Kabila and ordered the seizure of assets belonging to him and senior party officials, citing alleged support for the M23 rebel group operating in the country’s eastern region.

In a statement released late Saturday, the Ministry of Interior announced the suspension of the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), while the Ministry of Justice declared that the actions of Kabila and his associates amounted to “high treason.”

“The PPRD has been implicated in aiding the M23 rebels, who continue to destabilize the east of the country,” the interior ministry stated. “The government has therefore taken measures to suspend the party’s activities and instructed prosecutors to begin legal proceedings.”

There were no specific details provided regarding the evidence behind the allegations.

Kabila, 53, who ruled the country from 2001 to 2019, has not yet responded publicly to the accusations. He previously indicated his intention to return to the DRC to contribute to peace efforts amid ongoing violence in the east.

Ferdinand Kambere, the PPRD’s secretary-general, condemned the government’s actions as unconstitutional. “This is a flagrant violation of Congo’s constitution and laws,” he told Reuters.

The M23, a rebel group reportedly backed by Rwanda, has seized two key cities in the mineral-rich eastern Congo since the beginning of the year. The region has endured decades of conflict rooted in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and fierce competition over natural resources.

Kabila ascended to power following the assassination of his father, Laurent-Désiré Kabila, in 2001. He resisted stepping down when his final term ended in 2016, eventually ceding power in 2019 after prolonged protests. Since leaving office, he has resided in various African countries.

The government’s move marks an escalation in political tensions ahead of upcoming national efforts to address instability in the east and may deepen divisions among Congo’s political elite.