Former Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila has been sentenced to death in absentia by a military court that found him guilty of war crimes, treason, and crimes against humanity. The charges are linked to his alleged support for Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in eastern Congo.
Kabila, who ruled from 2001 to 2019, has denied the accusations, claiming the judiciary is being used for political purposes. Presiding judge Lieutenant-General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi said Kabila was convicted of murder, sexual assault, torture, and insurrection. He did not attend the trial, had no legal representation, and his current location remains unclear.
Along with the death sentence, the court ordered Kabila to pay $50 billion in damages to the state and victims. Observers warn the verdict could deepen divisions in the conflict-ridden, resource-rich nation.
Kabila, who stepped down after mass protests, has mostly lived in South Africa since late 2023 but made an appearance in rebel-held Goma earlier this year. His relationship with successor President Felix Tshisekedi deteriorated after an initial power-sharing deal collapsed. Tshisekedi has accused him of backing the M23 insurgency, which now controls large areas in North and South Kivu, fueling deadly violence and mass displacement.
Read more: Supreme Court: Unfair Trial in Bhutto’s Death Sentence
