GOMA, DRC — Former Congolese president Joseph Kabila has reportedly returned to the eastern city of Goma, a region currently under the control of M23 rebels, sparking renewed political tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kabila’s visit was confirmed by Corneille Nangaa, the political leader of the AFC/M23 coalition, who shared the news on X (formerly Twitter). “The return home of this great political figure is welcomed,” Nangaa stated, adding that Kabila “made the right choice, rather than remaining in forced exile.”
The visit comes just days after the DRC Senate voted overwhelmingly to strip Kabila of his honorific immunity, a move driven by allegations that he has been supporting the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.
In a dramatic session, 88 senators voted in favor of lifting Kabila’s immunity, while only five opposed the motion and three abstained. The vote followed President Félix Tshisekedi’s accusation that Kabila had conspired with the M23 rebels to destabilize the country.
Kabila, who has been living abroad since 2023, was not present in the Senate during the vote.
The M23 insurgency has reemerged as a major threat in the DRC’s mineral-rich eastern provinces, intensifying the already volatile security and political landscape. The former president’s alignment with rebel-held territory will likely raise further questions about his political intentions and ties.
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