Several key figures from the party of former Congolese President Joseph Kabila have been summoned for questioning by a military prosecutor on Monday, signaling growing political tensions over Rwanda-backed rebels’ recent gains in eastern Congo.
The reason for the summons remains unclear, said Jean Mbuyu, a lawyer for the officials and Kabila’s former security adviser. However, President Félix Tshisekedi, who previously shared power with Kabila in an uneasy alliance, has accused him of supporting the M23 rebels, who have captured two major eastern cities since January.
Amid criticism of Tshisekedi’s handling of the crisis, Kabila has been engaging with opposition figures and civil society leaders to discuss the country’s political future.
Mbuyu confirmed that around ten members of Kabila’s People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) had received letters from the military prosecutor’s office, though only three were expected to appear in Kinshasa on Monday. Among them were Aubin Minaku, the party’s vice president and former National Assembly speaker, and Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a former interior minister and 2018 presidential candidate.
“We’re here to listen, as the summons did not specify any charges,” Mbuyu said.
Minaku stated that they would comply with the request “to avoid any suspicion” and rejected any ties to M23 or other armed groups.
“We are acting in a Republican manner, not in rebellion,” he told Reuters, emphasizing their loyalty to the state.
The latest M23 offensive marks the most serious escalation in a conflict rooted in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the battle over Congo’s vast mineral wealth. Rwanda has denied allegations of supporting M23, insisting its military operations are defensive against hostile Congolese forces and militias.