Reading Joseph Kabila

The US has imposed sweeping sanctions on former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila, accusing him of backing the M23 rebel group. Joseph Kabila has emerged this Friday as one of the stories drawing attention in Kenya.

Key facts

• The US has imposed sweeping sanctions on former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila, accusing him of backing the M23 rebel group.
• Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on former President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Joseph Kabange Kabila (Kabila) for his role in supporting the March 23 Movement (M23) and the Congo River Alliance (Alliance Fleuve Congo, AFC).
• Joseph Kabila served as President of the DRC from 2001 until 2019.
• The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on former Congolese President Joseph Kabila for his alleged role in funding and providing political support to rebel groups operating in the east of his country.
• WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on former Congolese President Joseph Kabila for his alleged role in funding and providing political support to rebel groups operating in the east of his country.

What we know

Going deeper, Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on former President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Joseph Kabange Kabila (Kabila) for his role in supporting the March 23 Movement (M23) and the Congo River Alliance (Alliance Fleuve Congo, AFC).

On the substance, Joseph Kabila served as President of the DRC from 2001 until 2019.

Beyond the headlines, the Trump administration has imposed sanctions on former Congolese President Joseph Kabila for his alleged role in funding and providing political support to rebel groups operating in the east of his country.

More precisely, WASHINGTON

It is worth noting that the leader of the AFC, Corneille Nangaa, was originally sanctioned by OFAC in 2019 for his role in delaying the 2016 DRC elections as President of the National Independent Electoral Commission during Kabila’s presidency.

By the numbers

At this stage, In 2025, he traveled to Goma, DRC, where he has lived under the protection of M23.KABILA’s SUPPORT TO M23 and AFCWith the advent of AFC and M23’s renewed rebellion, Kabila has returned to the DRC with the intent to destabilize the DRC government through his support to M23 and AFC.

On a related note, OFAC designated Kabila pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13413, as amended by E.O.

Going deeper, the current whereabouts of Kabila are unknown, but 12 months ago he made an appearance in the M23-held city of Goma.

On the substance, the Treasury and State departments announced Thursday that they had targeted Kabila, who served as Congo’s president from 2001 until 2019, with a freeze on all assets he may have in the United States or that transit through financial institutions in U.S. jurisdictions.

What they're saying

“President Trump is paving the way for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and he has been clear that those who continue to sow instability will be held accountable,” Bessent said. “Treasury will continue to use its full range of tools to support the integrity of the Washington Accords.”

The wider context

On a related note, Kabila has provided financial support to the AFC in order to influence the political situation in eastern DRC.

Going deeper, Kabila has encouraged Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) troops to defect and join AFC forces in eastern DRC in order to generate additional support for AFC.

On the substance, Additionally, Kabila sought to launch attacks from outside DRC on FARDC in eastern DRC, but his effort was unsuccessful.

Beyond the headlines, Kabila has also worked to put in place a candidate opposed to the current President of the DRC with the intent to regain influence over the DRC government.

More precisely, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement that Kabila had been supporting the Rwanda-backed M23 and Congo River Alliance rebel groups, which are seeking to topple the current Congo government.

The bottom line

• The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on former Congolese President Joseph Kabila for his alleged role in funding and providing political support to rebel groups operating in the east of his country.
• WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on former Congolese President Joseph Kabila for his alleged role in funding and providing political support to rebel groups operating in the east of his country.
• The leader of the AFC, Corneille Nangaa, was originally sanctioned by OFAC in 2019 for his role in delaying the 2016 DRC elections as President of the National Independent Electoral Commission during Kabila’s presidency.