Kinshasa: DR Congo's former President Joseph Kabila has publicly rejected the United States' recent sanctions, describing them as 'unjustified and politically motivated.' The sanctions were imposed by the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, accusing Kabila of financially supporting the AFC/M23 rebels in eastern Congo to influence the region's political dynamics and allegedly encouraging Congolese troops to defect to the rebel forces.

According to Anadolu Agency, Kabila's office has dismissed these sanctions, asserting that the allegations lack concrete evidence and denying any involvement in the ongoing tensions within the Democratic Republic of Congo. Joseph Kabila, who led the country from 2001 to 2019, has resided in South Africa since 2023. In early 2025, he made notable public appearances in eastern Congo, particularly in areas under rebel control, expressing his intention to return and contribute to resolving the crisis.

During his presidency, Kabila claimed to have achieved significant milestones such as the reunification of the country, gradual pacification, and national reconciliation. Despite these claims, the Congolese government has shown support for the US sanctions, labeling them as a crucial step towards addressing impunity and the destabilization of eastern Congo.

Kabila has also indicated his intention to pursue legal action to contest what he describes as surprising sanctions. The M23 rebel group, accused of receiving support from Rwanda by the UN and Western nations, remains a central figure in the eastern Congo conflict, having seized significant territories, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, earlier in 2025.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, a military court in Congo sentenced Kabila to death in absentia last year, charging him with treason and war crimes.