The U.S. Treasury Department has announced sanctions against former DRC President Joseph Kabila amid accusations he backed the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the east. A military court in Kinshasa convicted Kabila in absentia last year and sentenced him to death on charges including war crimes and treason; Kabila denies the charges and says the judiciary is politicised. President Félix Tshisekedi's government has suspended Kabila's party and moved to seize the assets of its leaders while Kabila has largely been based in South Africa since late 2023.
U.S. Sanctions Former DRC President Joseph Kabila Amid Allegations of Backing M23 Rebels
FILE PHOTO: Joseph Kabila Kabange addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
WASHINGTON, April 30 — The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila, posting the measure on its website. The move follows long-standing accusations by Kinshasa that Kabila aided the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group operating in eastern Congo.
Background
Last year a military court in Kinshasa convicted Kabila in absentia and sentenced him to death on charges that included war crimes, treason and crimes against humanity. Congolese authorities say those charges stem from allegations that Kabila supported or abetted the M23 rebels; Kabila has denied any wrongdoing and has said the judiciary has been politicised.
Kabila governed the DRC for nearly two decades before stepping down amid deadly protests. Since late 2023 he has largely resided in South Africa, though he made a public appearance in the rebel-held city of Goma in eastern Congo in May.
Domestic Developments And Possible Implications
President Félix Tshisekedi's administration has moved to suspend Kabila's political party and to seize the assets of its leaders as part of a broader effort to limit the former president's influence. The U.S. sanctions add international pressure on Kabila and could affect his financial and diplomatic options; the Treasury's initial posting did not specify detailed measures.
This development is likely to intensify political tensions in the DRC and could have ramifications for regional stability if it influences the dynamics around the M23 insurgency and relations with neighboring countries.
Reporting: Christian Martinez; additional reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Humeyra Pamuk.
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