Breaking News: Ex-President Kabila returns to Congo, arriving in rebel-held Goma
By Yahaya Idris
Former Congolese President, Joseph Kabila returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo on April 18, 2025, arriving in the rebel-held eastern city of Goma after two years of self-imposed exile, primarily in South Africa.
Kabila return is highly controversial as the government accuses him of supporting the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, which seized Goma in January and has expanded control in the east, fueling ongoing conflict and displacement.
The Congolese government has charged Kabila with high treason, suspended his political party (PPRD), and ordered the confiscation of his assets, citing his alleged links to the M23 rebels and accusing him of orchestrating an insurrection.
However, the former Congo President Kabila denies these accusations.
Kabila’s stated reason for returning is to participate in peace efforts and help resolve the political and security crisis in the eastern DRC, emphasizing that Congolese must be involved in discussions about their country.
However, analysts warn his presence in Goma could escalate tensions between the rebels and the government amid fragile ceasefire talks.
Kabila’s return to Goma marks a significant and contentious development in the DRC’s ongoing conflict, with the government viewing it as a threat linked to rebel support, while Kabila frames it as a move toward peace.
Kabila, who left the Congo on self imposed exile in 2023, visited Goma to contribute in peace efforts in the conflict-ridden eastern region, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized major territory, including the strategic eastern city, according to a close aide of the former president.
A senior M23 official and another associate of Kabila’s also confirmed the former president’s return.
The three individuals spoke on the condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media.
The Congo’s endless conflict escalated in January, when the rebels advanced and seized Goma, followed by the town of Bukavu in February.
The fighting has resulted in approximately 3,000 fatalities and exacerbated one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with around 7 million displaced individuals.
