Former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila has challenged US sanctions imposed on him, asking a Washington court to remove his name from the US Treasury’s blacklist.
In a lawsuit filed in Washington, Kabila argued that the sanctions imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in April were based on unsubstantiated allegations.
The United States accused the former president of providing financial and political support to the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who seized control of large parts of eastern Congo last year.
Kabila, however, disputes the allegations, arguing that the US government has not identified any specific transfer of funds or political incentives from him to the armed group.
The former president returned to the public spotlight last year after years in self-imposed exile, emerging in the eastern city of Goma just months after it was captured by M23 rebels.
His return has drawn further controversy in Congo. A military court in Kinshasa sentenced Kabila to death in absentia over allegations including treason and his alleged role in supporting M23.
The legal challenge comes amid continuing instability in eastern Congo, despite a peace agreement between Kinshasa and Kigali.
Fighting and tensions have persisted in the region, with both sides accusing each other of violating the terms of the agreement and failing to end the violence.
Kabila’s lawsuit now puts the US sanctions under judicial scrutiny as he seeks to clear his name and have the measures against him overturned.
