Former Congolese President Joseph Kabila has reportedly arrived in the rebel-held city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to three sources close to him, marking a surprise return to a region at the heart of an escalating conflict.
Kabila, who led Congo from 2001 until 2019, landed in Goma on Sunday night, the sources told Reuters. He is expected to begin consultations with local citizens on Wednesday, even as the city remains under the control of the M23 rebel group, which is allegedly backed by Rwanda.
Kabila has denied accusations from the Congolese government that he supports M23. His visit comes just weeks after Congo’s Senate voted to lift his immunity from prosecution over alleged links to the insurgency, raising tensions with President Félix Tshisekedi’s administration.
While Kabila has not publicly commented on his presence in Goma, Corneille Nangaa, the leader of a rebel coalition that includes M23, confirmed the former president’s arrival via social media. No images of Kabila in Goma have yet been released.
Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya, speaking on national television, accused Kabila of “positioning himself as a rebel leader” alongside Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Kabila is currently wanted in Congo for alleged crimes against humanity tied to the M23 rebellion, including involvement in civilian massacres. Authorities have since moved to suspend his political party and seize the assets of its leaders.
In a speech last Friday, Kabila fired back at the accusations, describing Congo’s justice system as politically weaponized under Tshisekedi. He claimed it has become “an instrument of oppression” used to silence dissent.
Kabila’s reappearance could complicate international efforts, particularly by the United States, to resolve the crisis. The Biden administration is pushing for a peace agreement this summer that would unlock massive investments in the mineral-rich region. Trump’s senior adviser for Africa, Massad Boulos, told Reuters that peace efforts are being paired with deals aimed at attracting billions of dollars in Western mining investment.
The United Nations and several Western countries have accused Rwanda of supplying M23 with arms and troops. Rwanda, however, denies backing the rebels, claiming its military actions are in self-defense against Congolese forces and a militia linked to the 1994 genocide.
Kabila had largely disappeared from public view after leaving Congo for South Africa in late 2023. His unexpected return to Goma raises both political and security questions as tensions in the region mount.
