DRC’s Former President Kabila Criticizes Judiciary After Losing Immunity

Former DRC President Joseph Kabila criticized the country’s justice system after the Senate lifted his lifetime immunity, opening the door for prosecution over alleged treason and war crimes linked to the M23 rebel group. In a livestreamed speech, Kabila called the judiciary an oppressive tool of a desperate regime. Denying ties to Rwanda-backed rebels, he accused the government of making arbitrary decisions. Kabila, in self-imposed exile since 2023, vowed loyalty to DRC’s sovereignty. His return could complicate peace efforts in the mineral-rich east, where the U.S. is backing a DRC-Rwanda agreement tied to major Western mineral investments.