The Constitutional Court of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has ordered the dissolution of the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), the political party founded by former President Joseph Kabila in 2002. The ruling was issued after the court received a request from the Minister of Interior, Jacquemain Shabani, to investigate allegations that Kabila had supported the African Union (AFC) and the M23 rebel movement in the eastern part of the country. The decision came in the wake of Kabila’s recent political activities. On 12 October, he announced the creation of the Front for National Reconciliation (FRN), a new political and military coalition that brought together high‑ranking M23 leaders. Kabila was named president of the FRN, with Corneille Nangaa and Bertrand Bisimwa appointed as vice presidents and Sultani Makenga as the coalition’s military commander. The FRN stated that its goal was to unite opposition to President Felix Tshisekedi and that armed struggle was a potential option. Following the announcement, the Ministry of Interior issued orders to ban the PPRD and several other political formations. The court’s ruling effectively ends the party’s legal existence. Kabila served as president of the DRC from 2001 until he transferred power to Tshisekedi in January 2019. Their political alliance dissolved in 2020. In May 2025, after returning to Goma—a city under M23 control—Kabila’s parliamentary immunity was revoked and a military trial was initiated against him. On 30 September 2025, a military court sentenced Kabila to death on charges of treason, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Kabila denied the accusations, arguing that the case was politically motivated.
Article and image source: Haberler