Ex-DRC Leader Kabila Rejects U.S. Sanctions as ‘Politically Motivated’ Amid Ongoing Rebel Crisis

KINSHASA, DRC — Joseph Kabila, the former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has publicly condemned new U.S. sanctions against him, dismissing them as unjustified and driven by political motives.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced the measures last week, accusing Kabila of funnelling financial support to the M23 rebel group—an armed faction that has controlled large portions of eastern DRC since 2021. The sanctions freeze any assets Kabila may hold in the United States. Washington has framed the action as part of a wider push for peace and stability in the region, following a bilateral agreement signed between the DRC and Rwanda last year.

In response, Kabila has insisted that no credible evidence supports the allegations. He led the DRC from 2001 to 2019 before transferring power to his successor, Félix Tshisekedi. The two former allies became political rivals in 2020 after a power-sharing arrangement collapsed. Kabila has resided in South Africa since 2023.

Tensions escalated earlier in 2025 when Kabila visited Goma, a city under rebel control, and stated his intention to help broker an end to the conflict between the government and the M23. The visit drew sharp condemnation from authorities in Kinshasa. He was subsequently stripped of his lifetime immunity as a senator. A military court later charged him with treason and sentenced him to death in absentia.

The DRC government has applauded the U.S. sanctions, describing them as a significant step in the fight against impunity.