Kabila’s party suspended a day after his return to DR Congo
The interior ministry announced that activities of the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), which Kabila still leads, are "suspended across all the national territory."
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has suspended the political party of former president Joseph Kabila, days after his return to the country following a lengthy absence.
In a statement dated Saturday, the interior ministry announced that activities of the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), which Kabila still leads, are "suspended across all the national territory."
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“This decision follows the overt activism of Joseph Kabila,” the ministry said, referring to the former president’s recent political engagements.
Kabila, who ruled the DRC for 18 years until 2019, had been living abroad since before the 2023 elections. He returned to the country on Friday, landing in Goma — a region that has become a stronghold for the M23/AFC rebel coalition.
Tensions between Kabila and his successor, President Felix Tshisekedi, have escalated in recent months. Tshisekedi has accused Kabila of preparing “an insurrection” and backing an alliance that includes the M23 rebel group, which is currently engaged in armed conflict with government forces in eastern DRC.
Last week, military intelligence officers raided one of Kabila’s residences in the capital, Kinshasa. His wife, Marie Olive Lembe, condemned the raid.
“Generators, solar panels, batteries and vehicles were taken away by the Demiap (intelligence service). On what basis are they seizing our property? It’s theft,” she said. “Where is the judicial decision? They’ve come to investigate about weapons — where are they?”
Several senior PPRD officials, including Aubin Minaku, have also been questioned by intelligence services in recent months.
There has been no official response from the PPRD regarding the suspension.
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