A military court in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has sentenced former president Joseph Kabila to death in absentia after convicting him of war crimes, treason, and crimes against humanity. The court also ordered Kabila to pay $50 billion in damages to the state and victims.
The charges relate to Kabila’s alleged backing of the M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda, in eastern DRC. Kabila, who governed from 2001 to 2019, has denied any wrongdoing, calling the judiciary politicised.
Lt Gen Joseph Mutombo Katalayi, presiding over the Kinshasa tribunal, said the court applied Article 7 of the military penal code to impose “the most severe sentence, which is the death penalty.” Kabila did not attend the trial and had no legal representation. His current location is unknown, and no statement has been made by him or his representatives.
Kabila ruled the country for almost two decades, stepping down after deadly protests. Since 2023, he has mostly resided in South Africa but appeared in Goma, a rebel-held city in eastern DRC, in May. He briefly shared power with his successor, Felix Tshisekedi, though their relationship deteriorated quickly.
In February, M23 rebels advanced on Bukavu, DRC’s second-largest city in the east. Tshisekedi accused Kabila of sponsoring the insurgency during the Munich Security Conference. M23 now controls much of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Fighting this year has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands. Despite a US-brokered peace agreement in June, both sides continue to strengthen positions and accuse each other of violating the accord.
Rwanda denies supporting M23, stating its forces act in self-defence against DRC’s army and Hutu militias linked to the 1994 genocide. Tshisekedi’s government has responded by suspending Kabila’s political party and seizing the assets of its leaders.
The verdict is likely to increase divisions in the mineral-rich country, which has suffered decades of conflict. Observers warn the death sentence could escalate tensions in eastern DRC and complicate efforts to achieve lasting peace.
