Kinshasa, DR Congo
A military court in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has sentenced former President Joseph Kabila to death in absentia. The tribunal convicted Kabila of multiple crimes, including treason, murder, torture, sexual assault, insurrection, and crimes against humanity.
Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi, who presided over the military tribunal, said the verdict applied Article 7 of the Military Penal Code, imposing the country’s most severe punishment. Kabila, who led the DRC from 2001 to 2019, left the country in 2023 but had recently visited Goma, a region controlled by the M23 rebel group.
The trial in absentia, which began in July, accused Kabila of supporting the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels responsible for seizing large territories in eastern DR Congo. Rwanda denies providing military assistance, although UN experts report its involvement in the offensive.
Kabila did not attend the trial and had no legal representation. He has previously criticized the case, calling the courts “an instrument of oppression.” There is currently no information regarding his whereabouts following the verdict.
Although sentenced to death, Kabila’s arrest appears unlikely. Legal observers note that an appeal to the Court of Cassation is possible but limited to procedural claims, not a review of the case’s merits. Analysts suggest the sentence may aim to prevent Kabila from consolidating opposition forces within the country.
In May, the DRC Senate voted to remove Kabila’s immunity from prosecution, a move the former president condemned as “dictatorial.” While the DRC lifted its moratorium on the death penalty last year, no executions have been carried out.
Military prosecutor General Lucien Rene Likulia had requested the death penalty, accusing Kabila of plotting to overthrow President Félix Tshisekedi. Other charges relate to alleged involvement with M23, including homicide, torture, and rape.
Despite a peace agreement between the Congolese and Rwandan governments signed in Washington, DC, and a ceasefire declaration with M23 in Qatar, violence persists in eastern DR Congo. NGOs report continued abuses against civilians, and a UN investigation in September found that all parties may have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Sunday Buna Ibrahim is a seasoned journalist with Daily Frontier (dailyfrontier.com.ng), where he reports on security, conflicts, and humanitarian issues across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, particularly Plateau and Benue States. He also serves as a News Producer at Vision FM Radio in Abuja. Prior to joining Daily Frontier, he worked with Radio Nigeria, Fombina FM Yola in Adamawa State between 2019 and 2020.
