The Congolese MP, Jean-Marc Kabund, placed on Tuesday under a provisional arrest warrant for “public insults”, “contempt of the head of state” and “spreading false rumors”, spent his first night in prison.
After having been heard twice by the public prosecutor’s office at the Court of Cassation, the prosecutor accused him of having « made insulting remarks likely to undermine the honor due to public institutions and the dignity of the Head of State with intent to offend him ».
Kabund, former interim president of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), the ruling party in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), pays the costs of his statements made in mid-July against the leader of the State, Felix Tshisekedi, of which he was the right arm.
“It is over, there is nothing more to hope for with President Tshisekedi and the UDPS which have failed. The power in place is incapable. I ask the people to mobilize to drive Felix Tshisekedi out of power,” he said at a press conference, while calling his ex-ally a “danger at the top of the state.”
Following these remarks, the Office of the National Assembly announced the opening of a disciplinary file against Kabund for « irresponsible behavior ». A few days later, this office had authorized the public prosecutor at the court of cassation to prosecute its ex-member.
This arrest « is an indication that the rule of law is collapsing in the DRC », said the president of the human rights NGO Asadho, Jean-Claude Katende.
Jean-Marc Kabund, 46, was expelled from the presidential party last July and now appears as an opponent of the ruling regime. He launched his party, the Alliance for Change, and made no secret of his presidential ambitions for the 2023 meeting. At the end of March, he officially left his post as first vice-president of the National Assembly.
By OMA Newsletter N° 816 of 08/10/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
