Former Congolese leader Kabila meets with religious leaders in rebel-controlled city

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Former Congolese president Joseph Kabila, who is accused of supporting rebels, has met with apical spiritual leaders successful the rebel-controled metropolis of Goma

ByJUSTIN KAMBUMBA ASSOCIATION PRESS Associated Press

GOMA, Congo -- Former Congolese President Joseph Kabila, who is accused by the authorities of supporting Rwanda-backed rebels successful the country’s conflict-battered east, connected Thursday met with apical spiritual leaders successful the rebel-controlled metropolis of Goma.

During the gathering — his archetypal nationalist engagement since Congolese authorities lifted his immunity amid a treason probe - Kabila expressed his tendency to assistance execute bid successful the troubled region, according to 1 of the spiritual leaders.

“The erstwhile president called america to explicit his privation to spot bid return,” Joel Amurani, elder bishop and president of the Religious Denominations Platform, said aft the meeting.

“We told him to play the relation of referee. For 18 years, helium has worked for the unity of this country, and helium inactive possesses this endowment to lend to the instrumentality of peace,” Amurani added.

Kabila, who led Congo from 2001 to 2019, is accused by the authorities of supporting the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels that person seized 2 large cities successful the country’s east. He had been successful self-imposed exile since 2023 until April erstwhile he arrived successful the cardinal metropolis of Goma successful the east.

Among his alleged crimes see “treason, warfare crimes, crimes against humanity and information successful an insurrectional movement” successful the country’s east, Justice Minister Constant Mutamba has said.

The Congolese authorities has not spoken publically astir immoderate plans to complaint Kabila for the alleged crimes. However, the legislature past week voted to assistance the government’s request and assistance his beingness immunity due to the fact that of his honorific rubric arsenic legislator for life.

Congolese governmental expert Hubert Masomeko described the existent governmental concern arsenic a “dangerous standoff” betwixt the Congolese authorities and Kabila.

"Kabila’s accomplishment successful Goma is simply a governmental counteroffensive successful retaliation for the measures taken by Kinshasa,” Masomeko added.