Former President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila Kabange, has denied recent reports claiming he had already arrived in the city of Goma, clarifying that he plans to go there in the coming days.
Kabila made the statement during an address to the Congolese people last night.
His remarks came just hours after the DRC Senate lifted his immunity as a lifetime senator, allowing authorities to bring him before the courts.
It is expected that the High Military Court will soon begin proceedings against him, involving charges such as attempting to overthrow the government and conspiracy.
These accusations emerged following earlier reports that Kabila had been spotted in Goma, a city currently under the control of the M23 rebel group, which Kinshasa has long accused him of supporting.
In his speech, Kabila denied ever setting foot in Goma as previously alleged.
He argued that the government’s decisions to prosecute him, seize all his assets, and suspend the activities of his political party, the PPRD, were hasty and unfounded, made solely because he allegedly traveled to M23-controlled areas.
He stated:
“If truth is what we need, let it be told again. A few days ago, following a mere rumor spread on the streets and social media claiming I was in Goma—which I plan to visit soon—Kinshasa’s government made reckless and alarming decisions. This only confirms the steady decline of democracy in our country.”
Kabila further accused the Congolese government of abandoning and disrespecting the population in the eastern part of the country by cutting off their access to essential services, including banking and transportation.
He stated that these acts were a form of strangulation of the eastern Congolese population and had placed their lives in unprecedented danger.
Joseph Kabila served as president of the DRC from 2001 to 2019.
This is the first time he has spoken publicly since going into self-imposed exile after handing over power to President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, though their political alliance quickly deteriorated.
