DR Congo Senate Strips Former President Kabila of Immunity Over Treason

The Democratic Republic of Congo's Senate has overwhelmingly voted to strip former President Joseph Kabila of his legal immunity, authorizing his prosecution for alleged support of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group that controls parts of the mineral-rich eastern region. Kabila, who has lived in South Africa since 2023 and was not present for the vote, faces accusations of treason and war crimes supported by a substantial body of evidence according to Congolese authorities. Following his 2019 resignation, Kabila was granted the title 'senator for life,' which provided immunity, but the military prosecutor requested its removal to proceed with charges. The government's Justice Minister has ordered the seizure of Kabila's assets and urged him to return and face justice, while his party, the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, denies reports of his recent return and condemned the prosecution as political theater. The Senate's decision comes amid ongoing conflict with the M23 rebellion, which has destabilized the region since 2012, and analysts warn that prosecuting Kabila could exacerbate instability. The ruling president, Felix Tshisekedi, accused Kabila of conspiring with rebels to destabilize the country, intensifying political tensions within the Congo.