The political climate in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has grown increasingly tense as the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), founded by former President Joseph Kabila, has defied a government suspension and resumed its operations.
On Tuesday, party officials announced that despite a suspension issued by the Ministry of Interior last month, the PPRD would resume its activities, citing legal grounds for doing so. The move signals a bold challenge to the administration of President Félix Tshisekedi and deepens political divisions ahead of crucial national conversations around security and governance.
The Congolese government had issued the suspension order amid accusations that the PPRD and its founder, Joseph Kabila, were engaged in what it described as “overt activism” that threatened national stability. In particular, authorities criticized Kabila’s silence on the activities of the M23 rebel group, which currently controls large areas of North and South Kivu in the eastern part of the country.
In a statement, the Ministry of Interior justified the suspension by accusing Kabila of “failing to clearly denounce the actions of M23,” implying indirect support for the group. The government further suggested that Kabila’s low-profile return to the country in April, following a period of self-imposed exile, raised serious security concerns.
Kabila, 53, ruled the DRC from 2001 until 2019, after succeeding his assassinated father, Laurent-Désiré Kabila. His lengthy tenure was marked by both economic reforms and allegations of corruption and human rights abuses. After stepping down in 2019, he largely disappeared from public view, only to reemerge in April 2025 when he quietly returned to the eastern city of Goma — a region under partial control of M23 rebels — via neighboring Rwanda.
Since his arrival, Kabila has not made any public appearances or statements, further fueling speculation about his intentions and affiliations.
Despite the suspension order, the PPRD’s legal team argues that Congolese law requires a court order to extend such a political ban beyond 15 days. According to the party’s lawyers, the absence of judicial authorization means the government’s suspension has now lapsed.
“Our interpretation of the law is clear: without a court ruling, the suspension cannot be indefinite,” said PPRD legal counsel Jean-Paul Bisimwa. “Fifteen days have passed, and we are within our rights to resume our political activities.”
Party officials echoed the sentiment, accusing the government of overstepping its authority and stifling opposition voices under the guise of national security.
“This is an attack on democracy,” said Marie-Claire Ilunga, a senior official in the PPRD. “We are a legally registered political party. We cannot be silenced without due process. The people of Congo have the right to political plurality, and we intend to exercise our rights fully and peacefully.”
Political observers see this confrontation as the latest episode in the fraught relationship between the former and current Congolese administrations. President Tshisekedi, who took office in January 2019, initially formed a power-sharing arrangement with Kabila’s camp. However, the alliance collapsed amid growing mistrust, leading Tshisekedi to consolidate his authority and remove Kabila loyalists from key positions in government and the military.
The government’s accusations against Kabila—particularly the implication of his support for M23—have shocked many in the country. M23, a predominantly Tutsi rebel group, has been active for years and is widely accused of committing atrocities, displacing thousands, and disrupting regional peace efforts. The Congolese government has long alleged that Rwanda backs M23, a charge Kigali has repeatedly denied.
Kabila’s entry into Goma, reportedly from Rwanda, has only added fuel to these allegations. The PPRD has not responded directly to claims that their leader entered the country through Rwanda or that he may have ties to M23.
“This government is trying to criminalize a return that is entirely legal,” said Bisimwa. “President Kabila is a Congolese citizen. He is free to return to his country without being subjected to suspicion and slander.”
Security analysts, however, warn that the situation must be monitored closely.
“There are layers to this crisis,” said Dr. Francine Mulumba, a Kinshasa-based political analyst. “The east is already unstable due to M23. If Kabila is perceived—fairly or not—as aligning with rebel interests, this could further complicate the security landscape. On the other hand, suppressing legitimate political activity only breeds more discontent. The government must tread carefully.”
For many Congolese citizens, the drama in the political elite is less pressing than the day-to-day challenges they face—from insecurity and economic hardship to displacement due to conflict.
“I don’t care about the politics between Kabila and Tshisekedi,” said Pascaline Ndaya, a displaced resident in North Kivu. “What I want is peace in my village. What I want is to stop running.”
As the PPRD resumes its activities in defiance of the suspension, the coming weeks are likely to test the resilience of Congolese democratic institutions. With speculation swirling about Kabila’s next political move and continued tensions in the volatile east, the stakes for peace and stability in the DRC have never been higher.
