Former DRC President Joseph Kabila returns to Goma via Kigali

Democratic Republic of Congo's former President Joseph Kabila, at a past event. (Photo: REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko)

By Amina & Reuters
Friday, April 18, 2025

Sources revealed that Kabila travelled through Kigali, Rwanda, before reaching Goma. The former president, who has been officially residing between Zimbabwe and South Africa since 2023, had earlier announced his return to the DRC.

Former Congolese President Joseph Kabila has returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo, arriving in the eastern city of Goma, North Kivu Province, according to Radio France Internationale (RFI).

On Friday, 18 April, sources close to the AFC/M23 and the former head of state confirmed to RFI his return to Goma.

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Sources revealed that Kabila travelled through Kigali, Rwanda, before reaching Goma. The former president, who has been officially residing between Zimbabwe and South Africa since 2023, had earlier announced his return to the DRC in a statement sent to several media outlets on Tuesday, 8 April.

Details regarding his itinerary or planned engagements in Goma remain undisclosed at this time. His unexpected return comes amid ongoing tensions in eastern Congo, although it is unclear whether his visit is related to the current political or security situation.

"I have resolved to return home without delay to contribute to the search for a solution," said Kabila at the beginning of the month when he announced he would return to DRC.

Kabila who was in office from 2001 to 2019 and left the country in 2023, living in South Africa and spending time in other African countries since then.

The son of President Laurent Kabila, came to power after his father's assassination and refused to stand down when his final term officially expired in 2016, leading to deadly protests.

Kabila's opponents accused him of delaying elections in order to organise a referendum to let himself stand for a third term. He finally agreed in 2018 to step down following an election that December.

President Felix Tshisekedi and Kabila formed an awkward power-sharing deal following Congo's disputed 2018 election. But Tshisekedi later accused his predecessor of blocking reforms.

Tshisekedi, who took office in 2019, has recently accused Kabila of backing the rebels.

Their relationship soured, and as M23 marched on eastern Congo's second-largest city, Bukavu, in February, Tshisekedi publicly accused Kabila of sponsoring the insurgency.

Kabila, meanwhile, has been reaching out to opposition politicians and civil society members to discuss the country's political future amid criticism of Tshisekedi's response to M23's campaign.

In March, three officials from Kabila's party were called in for questioning by a military prosecutor over comments one of them had made a month earlier. Their lawyer said no charges were laid against them.

"I have decided to begin with the eastern region, where there is danger at hand," Kabila said, outlining his plans in a written message that said this followed consultations with national and foreign power brokers and other actors in the conflict.