Former DRC President Kabila denounces US sanctions, calls allegations politically motivated

Former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila has rejected United States sanctions imposed against him, describing them as unjust, unsubstantiated and politically motivated.

The sanctions, announced by Washington on Thursday, accuse Kabila of supporting the M23 rebel group through financial backing, encouraging defections from the Congolese armed forces, and allegedly coordinating attacks against government forces from abroad.

In his response, Kabila said he received the decision “with astonishment,” insisting the allegations were not supported by evidence. He argued that they echoed claims made by the Congolese government, which he said had failed to substantiate them before domestic courts.

“The American decision is all the more surprising as it is based on the narrative of the Kinshasa authorities, who have been unable to substantiate the accusations made against him, with the slightest evidence, before the Congolese Military Tribunal, however known to be an obedient servant of the regime,” Kabila’s office said in a statement.

According to Kabila, the sanctions risk being interpreted as political support for repression, which he warned could amount to backing dictatorship.

“This decision therefore risks being perceived, in the DRC, in Africa and around the world, as a show of support for dictatorship and tyranny, a blank cheque for the crushing of every voice raised against corruption, predation, and the confiscation of the State,” he said.

Reflecting on his presidency, which ran from 2001 to 2019, Kabila also defended his record, arguing that his administration helped reunify the country after years of war and restore institutional stability. He further pointed to what he described as a landmark achievement: the DRC’s first peaceful transfer of power.

“It was during Kabila’s presidency that the DRC emerged from a devastating regional war, restored its institutional unity, and experienced, for the first time in its history, a peaceful and civilised transfer of power,” the statement said.

Kabila added that he would instruct his legal team to challenge the sanctions and demand disclosure of the evidence behind the allegations, saying he intended to defend his “honour, record, and historic contribution to the stability of the DRC.”

He further argued that the country’s ongoing crisis cannot be attributed solely to insecurity in the east, saying it also reflects deeper governance challenges with national economic and political consequences.

Kabila also called for a broader international approach to the conflict and urged continued engagement from the United States. He added that peace would not be achieved by what he described as “criminalising” those who call for reform, accountability, and reconciliation.