In a landmark decision, the Senate of the Democratic Republic of Congo has voted to lift the legal immunity of former President Joseph Kabila. This move follows a request by the country’s military prosecutor, who plans to charge Kabila with treason, war crimes, and allegedly supporting the M23 movement, which currently controls parts of eastern DR Congo.
Kabila, who holds a lifetime Senate seat as a former head of state, is the first in the country’s history to face such serious accusations. The Senate approved the motion with 88 votes in favor, 5 against, and 3 abstentions.
Having left the country at the end of 2023, Kabila did not respond to an official Senate summons to address the charges. The Senate’s decision now allows the military judiciary to initiate formal legal proceedings.
These developments follow a February 2025 statement by current President Félix Tshisekedi, who claimed that Kabila is “the real force behind everything,” directly accusing him of aiding M23—a self-declared political-military movement active in eastern DR Congo.
Responding in March from South Africa, Kabila dismissed the allegations, stating: “If I were supporting M23, the situation would look very different today.”
Kabila has not publicly addressed the Senate’s decision, but his political allies in the PPRD coalition have condemned the move, calling it a political maneuver. PPRD spokesperson Ferdinand Kambere argued that the Senate alone lacks the authority to revoke Kabila’s immunity, saying only a joint session of both legislative chambers can take such action, due to his status as a former head of state.
Kabila’s current location is unknown. Unconfirmed reports suggest he may have traveled to M23-controlled areas in eastern DR Congo, though his associates deny this. Since late 2023, he has reportedly been staying between South Africa and Zimbabwe.
