• The DRC is seeking to lift former President Joseph Kabila's immunity to potentially prosecute him for alleged war crimes.
• Justice Minister Constant Mutamba claims there is substantial evidence linking Kabila to war crimes and support for the M23 rebel group.
• Kabila has denied allegations of any wrongdoing and has been living abroad, primarily in South Africa.
• The timing aligns with ongoing peace efforts between Congo and Rwanda over escalating violence in eastern provinces.
• If the Senate approves the immunity lift, it will be unprecedented for a former DRC head of state.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is moving to remove the parliamentary immunity of former President Joseph Kabila, so he can face trial regarding accusations of supporting the M23 insurgency in the east of the country. Justice Minister Constant Mutamba announced that the Congolese military prosecutor has formally requested the Senate to strip Kabila of the legal protections granted to him as a former president and senator for life. Imported evidence reportedly implicates Kabila in “war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the massacres of peaceful civilians and military personnel” linked to the M23 group, which has gained significant territory in the east.

Kabila, who governed from 2001 to 2019, has lived outside the DRC since late 2023, mostly in South Africa. Recently, he expressed intentions to return to help resolve the growing conflict in eastern Congo. However, he has rejected allegations of involvement with the M23, which is believed to be supported by Rwanda and has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region, leading to significant civilian casualties and displacements. Notably, the DRC government's request to lift Kabila's immunity coincides with ongoing peace talks mediated by the U.S., aimed at curbing violence and establishing stability in eastern provinces.

Authorities have accused Kabila of complicity in offenses related to the armed conflict, which has killed approximately 3,000 people and displaced nearly 7 million others amid escalating violence this year. His political allies argue that the moves against him reflect a deeper political rivalry, particularly between Kabila and the current President Felix Tshisekedi. Kabila's party, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), was suspended last month amid claims of its ambiguous stance towards the insurgency, further intensifying the antagonism between Kabila’s faction and Tshisekedi's administration.