M23/AFC Rebels Announce Arrival of Joseph Kabila in Rebel-Held Territory

The announcement comes just days after the Congolese Senate voted to lift Kabila’s immunity, clearing the way for his prosecution on charges of treason

Goma, DRC | The Allied Revolutionary Coalition (ARC)/M23 rebel alliance has announced the arrival of former Congolese President Joseph Kabila in its strongholds, confirming his presence in what it called “liberated zones” under rebel control — a development likely to further inflame tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In a statement released Tuesday, the ARC/AFC described Kabila as the “respected and respectable former head of state and senator for life,” referring to him as “the soldier of the people.”

The group declared, “Long live the revolution,” portraying his presence as a symbolic endorsement of the insurgency against the government of President Félix Tshisekedi.

The announcement comes just days after the Congolese Senate voted to lift Kabila’s immunity, clearing the way for his prosecution on charges of treason, participation in an insurrectional movement, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. 

The move followed formal requests by the Justice Ministry, which accused Kabila of being a key backer of the M23/AFC rebellion.

In response to the Senate’s decision, Kabila issued a defiant statement, vowing to “actively participate in the liberation of the country,” signaling a sharp break from the political establishment and an open embrace of the armed uprising now gripping parts of eastern Congo.

Kinshasa Expected to Respond Forcefully

Although the Kinshasa government has not yet issued an official statement on Kabila’s reported arrival in rebel-held Goma, senior government sources described the act as “open rebellion” and “a betrayal of the Republic.” 

Justice Minister Constant Mutamba had earlier warned that Kabila’s actions were undermining the peace process and the authority of the Congolese state.

Officials close to the presidency say the government is considering legal and military responses, including accelerating asset seizures and seeking regional cooperation to isolate the former president diplomatically.

Regional Tensions and a Blocked Border

Kabila’s journey to M23-held territory reportedly came after Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni refused to allow him to cross into the DRC through Uganda. 

Museveni, a key regional ally of Tshisekedi, cited concerns that allowing Kabila to pass would compromise Uganda’s joint military operations with DRC against the ADF rebel group and damage growing trade ties with eastern Congo.

Museveni has long harbored distrust toward Kabila, whom he accused of tolerating the rise of ADF insurgents during his presidency. 

While Museveni has often exercised restraint, his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, recently issued a blunt warning: “I will never allow Joseph Kabila to become President of DRC again.”

Having been blocked at the Ugandan border, Kabila reportedly used alternative routes to access Goma, now a center of rebel political and military control.

A High-Stakes Political Gamble

Kabila’s reappearance in rebel-controlled zones — following his legal isolation and political marginalization — is being interpreted by analysts as a bold attempt to reassert his influence by aligning himself with insurgent forces. 

His co-signing of a recent opposition declaration calling for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Congo was seen as a veiled attack on Uganda’s presence in eastern DRC, further escalating regional tensions.

Observers warn that Kabila’s actions could derail international peace efforts and plunge the region into deeper instability. His alignment with M23/AFC fighters — designated by Kinshasa as terrorists — marks the most significant rupture in Congolese politics since his departure from power in 2019.

As the DRC braces for further military and political fallout, Kabila’s move into rebel territory may prove to be the most consequential decision of his post-presidential career — one that could either reignite his influence or seal his fate as a fugitive from the state he once ruled