Outgoing president Joseph Kabila sits during the inauguration ceremony for Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thursday Jan. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)
Congo lifts immunity of former president Kabila over his alleged support of rebels
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) 鈥 Congo鈥檚 senate has voted overwhelmingly to lift former President Joseph Kabila of his parliamentary immunity, paving the way for his prosecution over his alleged support of a rebel insurgency in the country鈥檚 east.
Outgoing president Joseph Kabila sits during the inauguration ceremony for Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thursday Jan. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)
By Jean-yves Kamale And Mark Banchereau The Associated Press
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) 鈥 Congo鈥檚 senate has voted overwhelmingly to lift former President Joseph Kabila of his parliamentary immunity, paving the way for his prosecution over his alleged support of a rebel insurgency in the country鈥檚 east.
鈥淭he Senate authorizes the prosecution and lifting of Joseph Kabila鈥檚 immunity,” Senate speaker Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde said Thursday after the vote.
Kabila has not commented on his immunity being lifted.
Justice Minister Constant Mutamba said the former president is accused of 鈥渢reason, war crimes, crimes against humanity and participation in an insurrectional movement鈥 in the country鈥檚 east.
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Earlier this month from prosecution that Kabila enjoyed because of his honorific title as senator for life.
The decades-long escalated in January when the advanced and seized the strategic city of Goma, followed by the town of .
On Friday, Human Rights Watch said a Congolese army-backed militias known as the 鈥淲azalendo鈥 committed beatings, killings, and extortion against civilians in the war-torn country鈥檚 east. Earlier this month, Congo accused M23 of murdering dozens, kidnapping thousands more and committing rape, torture and looting.
Congolese President last year alleged Kabila was supporting the rebels and 鈥減reparing an insurrection鈥 in eastern Congo with them, a claim Kabila denies.
Kabila led Congo from 2001 to 2019, taking office at the age of 29 and extending his mandate by delaying elections for two years after his term ended in 2016. His father, former President Laurent Kabila, was assassinated in 2001.
M23 is one of about 100 armed groups vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo near the border with Rwanda. The rebels are supported by about 4,000 troops from neighboring Rwanda, according to U.N. experts.
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Despite Congo鈥檚 army and M23 having earlier this month, fighting continues in the eastern province of South-Kivu.
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Banchereau reported from Dakar, Senegal. Justin Kabumba in Goma, Congo contributed to this report.
