DR Congo’s Joseph Kabila sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes and treason
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DR Congo’s Joseph Kabila sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes and treason
A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced former President Joseph Kabila to death in absentia for war crimes and treason. The charges against Kabila, who led the country for 18 years, relate to his alleged support for the M23 rebel group, which has been wreaking havoc in the eastern region.
Kabila was convicted on Friday of treason, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, including murder, sexual assault, torture, and insurrection. The former president denied the charges but refused to appear in court to defend himself, dismissing the case as “arbitrary” and claiming the courts were being used as an “instrument of oppression.”
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The conviction comes after a long-standing feud between Kabila and current President Félix Tshisekedi. Kabila handed power to Tshisekedi in 2019 but went into self-imposed exile in 2023 after their relationship soured. In April, Kabila expressed a desire to help find a solution to the deadly fighting in the east and visited the M23-held city of Goma in May.
However, Tshisekedi accused Kabila of being the mastermind behind the M23, and senators stripped him of his legal immunity, paving the way for his prosecution. The M23 has been accused of committing atrocities in the eastern DRC, and the UN and several Western countries have pointed to Rwanda’s backing of the group.
The conflict in the eastern DRC has escalated in recent months, with the M23 seizing control of large parts of the mineral-rich region, including the city of Goma and two airports. A ceasefire deal was agreed upon in July, but violence has continued.
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Kabila’s current whereabouts are unknown, and it remains unclear whether he will face any further consequences for his conviction [BBC News].
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