Former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila has criticized the country’s justice system after losing his immunity from prosecution. The Senate voted to lift Kabila’s lifetime immunity, allowing him to be charged with treason and war crimes related to alleged links to the M23 rebel group.
Kabila denied any involvement with the Rwanda-backed rebels who have taken control of two major cities in the conflict-battered east. He described the justice system as an “instrument of oppression” used by a desperate dictatorship to survive.
As Kabila was accused of taking arbitrary decisions, he stated that the DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity were non-negotiable. The 53-year-old former president vowed to defend his country with any necessary sacrifice.
Kabila’s return to the DRC could complicate efforts to end the rebellion in the east, which holds critical minerals sought by Western investors. A peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda is being pushed for this summer, accompanied by minerals deals that could bring billions of dollars to the region.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/23/drcs-ex-president-kabila-slams-justice-system-after-losing-immunity