Former DRC President Joseph Kabila Sentenced To Death For Treason

A military court in Kinshasa has handed down a death sentence to former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) president Joseph Kabila, finding him guilty of treason.

The 54-year-old ex-leader was convicted in absentia after being accused of collaborating with the M23 armed group, which has seized large parts of the country’s eastern region.

During the nearly five-hour hearing, the court president announced the ruling “without admitting mitigating circumstances,” as reported from the chamber filled with lawyers and journalists.

Joseph Kabila Links to M23 Rebels Highlighted

The tribunal concluded that Kabila was complicit in aiding the M23 rebels, a group long accused of receiving support from neighboring Rwanda. The rebels have taken control of resource-rich territories in eastern Congo, intensifying the country’s decades-long conflict.

Kabila’s current location remains unknown. He has largely avoided public appearances since leaving the country in 2023, though he was reportedly spotted in May this year in Goma, a city under M23 control.

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The path to prosecution was cleared in May when Kabila’s parliamentary immunity—held through his position as a senator for life—was officially revoked.

This sentencing comes as the DRC continues to grapple with over 30 years of violent conflict. Although the government lifted a moratorium on capital punishment in 2024, the nation has not conducted an execution in recent years.

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