Kabila’s Surprise Arrival in Goma Throws DR Congo Into Fresh Uncertainty
Joseph Kabila just set foot back in the Democratic Republic of Congo after more than a year lying low outside the country—and he chose one of the most controversial places to make his comeback. On April 19, 2025, Kabila landed not in the capital, Kinshasa, but in Goma. This city isn’t just a far-flung outpost; it’s currently under control of M23/AFC rebel-held forces. The move wasn’t just about coming home. It’s ignited a firestorm inside Congolese politics, with accusations and suspicions swirling among both supporters and opponents.
The ruling UDPS party, led by President Félix Tshisekedi, moved fast to question Kabila’s motives. Augustin Kabuya, their secretary-general, went public right away. He hinted that arriving in Goma showed sympathy with the rebels, hinting at backroom alliances, or at least some sort of understanding between Kabila and the insurgents. It’s no coincidence that Goma is the seat of the very rebels who’ve kept the region in a chokehold for years. For many in the government, the optics look terrible—and it’s just fueling the already explosive mistrust in Congolese politics.
Kabila Fights Back: Denials, Raids, and Political Chess
Kabila himself, never shy of a fight, shot back at his accusers. He was quick to dismiss the rebel-support allegations as baseless, even daring President Tshisekedi’s team to show any actual proof. For him, the story is all about peacemaking. He claims his return is to “participate in peace efforts,” shifting the narrative from suspicion to statesmanship.
His party, the PPRD, is defending his every move by pointing to Article 30 of the Congolese Constitution. That clause gives citizens—including ex-presidents—the right to travel anywhere in the country. Yet, the legal argument isn’t calming the political storm. In fact, things ramped up immediately after his return when government forces descended on Kabila’s Kinshasa properties. Security teams searched two family residences in Limete and Kingakati, seizing items like generators, solar panels, and vehicles. All this went down while Kabila was still in Goma—hundreds of miles away.
This wasn’t a quiet police probe. Kabila’s wife, Marie Olive Lembe, went public too, calling the raids “looting and theft.” She slammed the government for not even bothering with a warrant or proper procedure. Neighbors watched trucks cart off vehicles from the fancy Kingakati mansion. For Kabila’s supporters, this is about intimidation, pure and simple—an attempt to send a message while their figurehead is back in the spotlight.
Meanwhile, President Tshisekedi’s government hasn’t given a clear explanation for why they searched the homes or what evidence they were hoping to find. No official statement has come out about the ex-president’s return, leaving the media and public to fill the gaps with rumors and speculation.
As for Goma itself, it remains a hotspot. The city’s streets are tense, with UN convoys rolling past armed rebel checkpoints. Locals can’t ignore the irony: their city now hosts two parallel authorities—the rebels and a former national president. Security analysts, looking at the wider region, say Kabila’s choice of landing spot isn’t just a personal move—it could trigger fresh rivalry for influence in eastern DR Congo. With rebel groups entrenched and government forces stretched thin, no one is sure where the next move will come from or whether things will tip into open confrontation.
