A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has handed a death sentence to former President Joseph Kabila in absentia, where the ruling follows his conviction on multiple charges and comes amid heightened political tensions and ongoing unrest in the country.
This court has sentenced former President Joseph Kabila to death in absentia after convicting him of treason, crimes against humanity, murder, sexual assault, torture, and insurrection. Delivering the verdict, Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi cited Article 7 of the Military Penal Code, which prescribes the death penalty as the ultimate punishment.
Kabila, who ruled the country from 2001 to 2019, had gone into exile in 2023 but was recently reported in Goma, a city under the control of M23 rebels. His trial began in July, accusing him of backing the Rwanda-supported group, which has captured large areas of eastern Congo. Rwanda denies aiding M23, but United Nations experts claim Rwanda’s army played a “critical” role in its offensive.
The former president did not attend court, nor was he represented by lawyers. He had earlier dismissed the proceedings as political persecution and denounced the judiciary as “an instrument of oppression.” Analysts say the verdict aims to block Kabila from rallying opposition forces, though his arrest remains unlikely. Appeals are still possible but limited to procedural grounds.
Military prosecutor General Lucien René Likulia, who pushed for the death penalty, accused Kabila of plotting to overthrow President Félix Tshisekedi and linked him to atrocities committed by M23. Critics, however, argue the case could deepen political tensions.
Despite a peace agreement signed in June between Rwanda and Congo and a ceasefire pledge with M23 in July, violence persists. NGOs continue to report grave abuses against civilians, while a September UN investigation concluded all sides may have committed war crimes.
Joseph Kabila handed death penalty
