The former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila has returned to the country after two-years in self imposed exile. But Kabila’s homecoming is not being welcomed by everyone.
The former president is accused of supporting the M23 rebels that have violently seized territory in the mineral-rich eastern part of the country. The human rights organization Amnesty International accuses those rebels of killing, torturing, and forcibly displacing civilian detainees in the areas they now control.
Those areas include the big cities Goma in North Kivu and Bukavu in South Kivu. Neighboring countries are also involved. Rwanda denies it, but it is accused of backing the M23 rebel group, while Uganda has been helping the Congolese army fight the rebels.
The political fallout from the conflict in the east has escalated with the Congolese government stripping former president Joseph Kabila of immunity. The government accuses Kabila of being linked to the M23 rebels. The Congolese senate voted to remove the immunity Kabila is entitled to as a former statesman. The move could lead to him being tried for treason and war crimes. Kabila denies being linked to M23 and accuses the government of President Felix Tshisekedi of stiffling democracy in the country.
DW’s Jonas Gerding gained rare access, embedding with the Congolese military. He reports from Lubero, close to the frontline.
00:00 On the front in DRC
05:45 DW’s Christine Mhundwa speaks with Kambale Musavuli, DRC native, human rights activist, and analyst with the Center for Research on Congo-Kinshasa based in Accra, Ghana
For more news go to: http://www.dw.com/en/
Follow DW on social media:
►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwnews
►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dwnews
►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deutschewellenews/
►Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwnews
Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: https://www.youtube.com/dwdeutsch
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/deutschewelleenglish?sub_confirmation=1
#DRC #M23 #Kabila