The Democratic Republic of Congo has banned the party of former President Joseph Kabila, accusing him of links to the M23 rebel group. The ban comes amid reports that Kabila has returned to the country after two years in South Africa.
Kabila, who led DR Congo for 18 years and was succeeded by Félix Tshisekedi, has been accused of having an “ambiguous attitude” towards the occupation of Congolese territory by the M23. The party’s activities have been banned due to its alleged ties to the rebel group, which controls large parts of the east of the country.
The government has also ordered the seizure of Kabila’s property and accused him of high treason. However, Kabila has denied having links to the M23, saying it was not possible for him to organize elections after his second term ended in 2016.
Kabila returned to DR Congo despite claims from senior party officials that he is not currently in Goma, which was seized by the Rwandan-backed M23 in January. His spokesperson, Barbara Nzimbi, has said Kabila will address the nation soon.
The move comes amid reports of worsening institutional and security crises in DR Congo, with Kabila claiming he wants to help resolve these issues. However, some analysts have questioned his motivations, citing past links to the M23 and his father’s historical ties to the region.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2kv49wyw23o