Keypoints:
- DR Congo bans coverage of Joseph Kabila
- Former leader accused of rebel links
- Critics call move undemocratic censorship
THE government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has issued a sweeping ban on all media coverage of former President Joseph Kabila, intensifying tensions between his camp and the administration of his successor, President Félix Tshisekedi.
According to a report by the BBC, the order prohibits reporting on Kabila’s activities or interviews with members of his People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD). The Supreme Council of Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC), the country’s media regulator, warned that any breach could result in suspension of broadcasting licences.
Kabila under scrutiny
The ban comes amid rising political friction. Kabila, who returned to DR Congo last month after two years of self-imposed exile, faces mounting allegations from the government, including treason and alleged links to the M23 rebel movement—claims he has previously denied.
Kabila was recently seen in Goma, the eastern city under partial M23 control. His presence there has drawn fresh attention, particularly after the Senate voted to lift his immunity to allow for possible prosecution.
The BBC noted that no formal charges have been filed against the former president, but his increasing visibility and sharp criticism of the Tshisekedi government have sparked alarm within official circles.
Opposition and media backlash
Critics have quickly condemned the CSAC’s decision. Ferdinand Kambere, the PPRD secretary, described the move as ‘arbitrary’ on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Human rights activist Jean-Claude Katende, president of the African Association for the Defence of Human Rights, also labelled the ban an ‘abuse of power’ in comments carried by local media.
Even in areas controlled by M23 rebels, resistance to the directive is emerging. A spokesperson for M23 told the BBC that media outlets in their territories would not comply with the ban.
Analysts warn of unintended consequences
Political commentator Ambroise Mamba argued online that the censorship could backfire. ‘This kind of gag order only increases public interest in Kabila’s movements and statements,’ he noted.
Since his return, Kabila’s party has shared regular updates on his visits to civil society organisations and religious leaders, especially in the east of the country. In one post, he called the current administration a ‘dictatorship’, drawing a sharp rebuke from a government spokesperson who claimed Kabila ‘has nothing to offer.’
Regional complexity
Kabila’s return also comes against a backdrop of regional insecurity, with Rwanda repeatedly accused by Kinshasa of backing the M23 insurgency—an allegation Kigali denies. The rebel group has seized swathes of territory in eastern DR Congo, contributing to one of Africa’s most persistent humanitarian crises.
With the media blackout now in force, observers say the move signals an increasingly fraught chapter in DR Congo’s political landscape, raising fresh concerns over press freedom, accountability, and the trajectory of post-Kabila governance.
