Former Congolese President Joseph Kabila, who has been accused by the government of supporting rebels in Congo’s eastern region, has returned to the country from self-imposed exile. He arrived in the rebel-held city of Goma on Friday to actively participate in peace efforts in the conflict-ridden region, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have taken control of significant areas, including Goma, according to one of his close associates and a senior M23 official.
Congo’s decades-long conflict intensified in January when the rebels advanced and captured Goma, followed by the town of Bukavu in February. The ongoing fighting has resulted in the deaths of over 3,000 people and exacerbated an existing humanitarian crisis, displacing around 7 million individuals.
Kabila’s return to Congo aims to contribute to finding peace in the country, as he believes that discussions about Congo should involve the Congolese people, according to his aide. The former president is expected to address Goma’s residents at some point, although the details of his plans and the duration of his stay in Goma remain unclear.
Kabila’s return is seen as controversial, with concerns that his presence in Goma could heighten tensions between the rebels and the Congolese government during ongoing ceasefire negotiations. In fact, representatives from Congo’s government and the M23 group met in Qatar earlier this month in an effort led by the Gulf Arab state to renew dialogue and reaffirm their commitment to a peace deal that both parties accuse each other of violating.
Christian Moleka, a political scientist at the Congolese think tank Dypol, believes that Kabila’s return will have a significant impact on Congolese politics and potentially strengthen the belief that there is a connection between him and the M23 rebellion.
In the past, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi accused Kabila of supporting the rebels and preparing an insurrection, a claim Kabila denies. Kabila served as Congo’s president from 2011 to 2019, extending his term by two years after it ended in 2017. Following his departure from Congo, Kabila resided in South Africa and other African countries.
Source: http://www.africanews.com/2025/04/19/drc-kabila-arrives-in-rebel-held-goma-after-return-from-exile/
