Kabila sentenced to death in absentia over war crimes, treason

A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced former president Joseph Kabila to death in absentia, convicting him of treason, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

The charges stem from allegations that Kabila secretly supported the M23 rebel group, blamed for mass killings, torture, sexual violence, and the takeover of vast areas in eastern DRC.

Kabila, who ruled the country for nearly two decades after the 2001 assassination of his father Laurent Kabila, dismissed the proceedings as a “political witch-hunt.” He refused to appear in court, saying the judicial system was being manipulated as “an instrument of oppression.” His whereabouts remain unknown.

The once-powerful leader stepped down peacefully in 2019, handing over to President Félix Tshisekedi. But their relationship soured, and by 2023 Kabila was living in self-imposed exile.

In a surprising turn earlier this year, Kabila re-emerged in Goma—a city under rebel control—claiming he wanted to help broker peace. Soon after, Tshisekedi accused him of masterminding the rebellion, and parliament stripped him of immunity, opening the door for prosecution.

The ruling comes against the backdrop of renewed bloodshed in eastern Congo. Despite a July ceasefire deal, fighting has not abated. International observers, including the UN and Western governments, say there is overwhelming evidence that Rwanda is arming and backing the M23, though Kigali insists it is only acting to protect its borders.

Kabila’s conviction and death sentence mark a dramatic escalation in Congo’s political and security crisis—one that risks deepening instability in the mineral-rich region.