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Former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila has been sentenced to death in absentia by a military court after being convicted of war crimes, treason, and crimes against humanity.
The charges accuse Kabila of backing the M23 rebel group, which has unleashed devastation in eastern DRC through murder, torture, sexual violence, and armed insurrection.
Kabila, who ruled Congo for 18 years after the assassination of his father Laurent in 2001, denied the allegations but did not appear in court to defend himself. He described the case as “arbitrary” and an “instrument of oppression.” His whereabouts remain unknown.
The 54-year-old stepped down in 2019, handing power to President Félix Tshisekedi. However, tensions between the two deepened, leading to Kabila’s self-imposed exile in 2023. Earlier this year, Tshisekedi accused Kabila of masterminding the M23 insurgency, after which the Senate stripped him of his legal immunity.
The conviction comes amid intensifying conflict in eastern Congo, where the M23 has seized key territories including Goma, Bukavu, and strategic airports. The United Nations and Western nations accuse Rwanda of supporting the rebels, though Kigali denies the claims.
Despite a July ceasefire deal, violence has persisted, with millions of civilians caught in the conflict.
