Former Congolese President Joseph Kabila appeared publicly last Thursday for the first time in an area controlled by the rebel rebels in the eastern country, where he met a number of religious leaders in a meeting described by the participants as a step towards achieving peace.
Earlier this month, the Democratic government of the Congo raised the political immunity that Kabila had for life for its permanent membership in the Senate, accusing him of supporting the rebels and participating in crimes against humanity, according to the allegations of the ruling authorities.
The government also decided to suspend his party’s political activities, ordered the confiscation of his property, as well as some leaders who work in coordination with him in internal issues.
The political camp of Kabila denies any relationship with the rebellious “M23” movement that Rwanda is accused of supporting, which has seized vast areas of the eastern states, since last January.
A meeting with religious leaders
Kabila has repeatedly announced his intention to return to the country to contribute to finding a peaceful way out of the crisis that the Democratic Congo has been going through since the end of last year, and caused the killing and displacement of tens of thousands of people.
At his residence in the Kenyogotti region, west of Guma, Kabila received a number of religious leaders, and discussed with them the challenges facing the peace process in the region.
“The former president called on religious leaders to express their desire to return peace to the east of the country and all parts of the Congo.”
For his part, one of the assistants of Kabila explained that the meetings aim to see the security challenges in the region, noting that political, military and civil figures were invited to complete the consultations on Friday.