Overview

• The Democratic Republic of Congo's Senate voted 88–5 to strip former President Joseph Kabila of his lifetime immunity, enabling prosecution on charges including treason, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
• The charges stem from allegations that Kabila collaborated with the Rwanda-backed M23 militia, which has intensified conflict in the mineral-rich eastern DRC.
• Key evidence includes testimony from opposition figure Eric Nkuba, who claimed Kabila advised M23 leaders on a coup against President Félix Tshisekedi; the testimony has been contested as coerced.
• Kabila, who has been living abroad since at least 2023, did not attend the Senate proceedings, and his current whereabouts remain undisclosed.
• Critics argue the move is politically motivated, with analysts warning it could deepen political divisions and exacerbate instability in the DRC.