Kinshasa: Jean-Marc Kabund, a prominent opposition leader and former close ally of President Félix Tshisekedi, has been released from prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), his lawyer confirmed on Friday. Kabund had been serving a seven-year sentence on charges including contempt of the head of state.
Once a key figure in Tshisekedi’s administration, Kabund held the position of vice president of parliament before his political fallout with the president in 2022. Following the rift, he founded his own political party but was arrested in August that year and subsequently convicted.
His lawyer, Ghislain Mwanji, confirmed Kabund’s release but did not provide additional details. The DRC’s justice ministry also verified his release, while a spokesperson from the president’s office stated that Kabund had been granted a presidential pardon.
Kabund’s release comes at a time of increasing political and security tensions in the country. The government in Kinshasa is under mounting pressure due to the escalating conflict in the eastern provinces, where Rwandan-backed rebels have captured two key cities. The worsening security situation has sparked fears of a broader regional conflict and led to growing speculation about Tshisekedi’s ability to maintain stability.
The crisis has also fueled political uncertainty, with opposition figures openly questioning the president’s leadership. Kabund, once instrumental in Tshisekedi’s rise to power, saw his legal troubles as politically motivated.
Also Read | From Schoolyard to Battlefield: A Russian Town Remembers Its Fallen
In 2022, he described his case as evidence that Congolese institutions were being used to serve political interests. At the time, Human Rights Watch also cited his imprisonment as an example of the administration’s increasing intolerance toward dissent.
Also Read | Massive Sinkholes in Amazonian Town Force Residents to Flee
With Kabund now free, his next political moves will be closely watched, especially as the DRC navigates its ongoing internal challenges and opposition voices gain momentum.
