Officials from former President Joseph Kabila’s party in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been invited to appear before a military prosecutor. The move comes amid rising tensions over Rwanda-backed rebels’ advances in the east.
President Felix Tshisekedi has accused Kabila of sponsoring the M23 rebels, who have seized two major cities since January. Kabila’s allies deny any links to the rebels.
About 10 invitation letters were sent to members of Kabila’s People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy.
Three officials, including Aubin Minaku and Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, are expected to appear for questioning in Kinshasa.
The exact reason for the invitations is unclear, but Kabila’s party has been reaching out to opposition politicians and civil society members to discuss the country’s political future.
The conflict in eastern Congo is rooted in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the struggle for control of Congo’s mineral resources.
Rwanda denies providing arms and troops to the M23 rebels, claiming self-defense against the Congolese army and hostile militias.
