Congo Ex-President Kabila’s Allies to Face Military Prosecutor Amid Tensions
Former DRC President Joseph Kabila’s allies are summoned by a military prosecutor amid rising tensions due to M23 rebels advancing in the east. President Tshisekedi accuses Kabila of supporting these rebels, prompting Kabila to engage opposition leaders. Notable party figures are expected to attend questioning, asserting their loyalty to the nation and denying any ties to armed groups.
Former officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s party, led by ex-President Joseph Kabila, have received invitations to appear before a military prosecutor, indicative of rising political tensions linked to the advances of Rwanda-backed rebels in the eastern region. The precise reasons for these invitations remain unclear, according to Jean Mbuyu, a lawyer representing the officials and a former security advisor under Kabila.
President Felix Tshisekedi, previously in a power-sharing agreement with Kabila, has publicly accused him of supporting the M23 rebels, who have taken control of two major cities in eastern Congo since January. In light of these allegations, Kabila has reached out to opposition leaders and civil society members to deliberate on the nation’s political direction, amid critiques of Tshisekedi’s handling of the ongoing rebellion.
The military prosecutor’s office dispatched approximately ten invitations to members of Kabila’s People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD); however, only three individuals are anticipated to attend the interrogation in Kinshasa. Notable attendees include Aubin Minaku, the party’s vice president and former head of the National Assembly, and Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a past interior minister and a candidate for the presidency. Mbuyu indicated, “We’re going to listen because the invitation contains no reason.”
Minaku asserted that the officials would comply with the summons “to avoid any suspicion” and repudiated any affiliations with the M23 or other militant factions, emphasizing their commitment to a republican stance rather than one of insurrection. He further stated, “We clearly denounced any illicit presence of foreign forces,” reinforcing their loyalty to the nation.
The M23’s recent military offensives mark a significant escalation within a prolonged conflict that traces its origins to the repercussions of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the competition for Congo’s extensive mineral wealth. Rwanda has denied supplying arms and troops to the M23, asserting that its military actions are defensive against the Congolese army and associated militias that threaten its national interests.
The political landscape in the Democratic Republic of Congo is currently marked by significant tensions arising from the actions of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. The military prosecutor’s invitations to Kabila’s associates suggest an increasing scrutiny of political figures and their potential involvement. As the situation evolves, the responses from Kabila’s camp and the government may shape the future political discourse and stability in the region.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
