Former President of the Congo People’s Republic and lifelong Senator Joseph Campila said tonight, the day after his parliamentary immunity was removed that the “dictatorship” in his country “must end”.

“The dictatorship must end and democracy, as well as good economic and social governance, to be restored,” the 53-year-old former president (2001-19) said in a rare announcement he made online.

Cambilla also confirmed that “in the coming days” he will go to the city of Goma, which is controlled by the M23 armed organization, denouncing the “arbitrary decisions” of the Kinshasa regime.

“After a mere reputation of the road or the internet for my supposed presence in Goma, where I will move in the coming days, the Kinshasa regime has made arbitrary decisions, with a confusion that is confusing, which testifies to the impressive retreat of democracy in our country,” he added.

After removing his immunity by the Senate on Thursday, Campila can be brought before a military court. The government accuses him of synergy with the M23 guerrillas, on the backdrop of ongoing clashes in the Eastern Congo Congo.