Kinshasa, April 20, 2025 – Former Congolese president Joseph Kabila Kabange is now at the center of a major political and judicial storm in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Accused of high treason for allegedly aiding Rwanda’s military aggression through the M23/AFC movement, Kabila is facing legal prosecution, while his political party, the PPRD, has been suspended nationwide.
The situation escalated following the publication of two official statements on April 19. The Ministry of Justice announced that it had instructed the Military Auditor General and the Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation to initiate proceedings against Kabila and senior figures of the PPRD/FCC. They are accused of directly supporting Rwanda’s ongoing occupation of Congolese territory via the M23/AFC, a group designated as a terrorist movement by Kinshasa. Authorities also ordered the seizure of all their movable and immovable assets, along with travel restrictions on those implicated.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior condemned what it described as Kabila’s “ambiguous attitude,” citing his failure to publicly denounce the M23’s attacks and his recent visit to Goma — a city under de facto control of Rwandan-backed forces. According to multiple sources cited by RFI, Kabila traveled through Kigali before reaching the capital of North Kivu. The unannounced trip has fueled suspicions of collusion with Kigali.
In Kinshasa, authorities launched a search operation on April 17 at Kabila’s property in the Limete district. Thirteen shipping containers were recorded on-site, five of which were opened by investigators. These reportedly contained mostly spare mechanical parts used for commercial and logistical purposes by tenants. No incriminating evidence has been found so far, but military personnel remained on-site overnight under close surveillance. A family lawyer and an administrative representative were present throughout.
Simultaneously, rumors spread of a possible raid at Kabila’s private wildlife park, the Vallée de la N’Sele, located east of Kinshasa. While some staff members confirmed receiving official notice, security services denied any active operations at the site when contacted by RFI.
These actions come amid a politically charged atmosphere. Several senior PPRD figures have recently been interrogated by the military prosecutor’s office. Their phones were seized and examined. Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, the party’s permanent secretary, condemned the pressure: “We are victims of political persecution. We are even receiving anonymous calls warning us that we will be searched next.”
In Lubumbashi, the situation remains tense. On April 17, members of the presidential guard entered the Hypnose shopping center — a property owned by the Kabila family — triggering panic. However, it was later clarified that this was not a raid. Snipers were seeking strategic positions near the Haut-Katanga governor’s office, where President Félix Tshisekedi is currently staying.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a critical turning point. The confrontation between the current administration and the former regime is intensifying amid war in the east, international pressure on Rwanda, and national political realignment. Once retired from political life, Joseph Kabila now finds himself at the center of the country’s most severe institutional showdown since his departure from power.
Therwandan
