Former DRC President Kabila Sentenced Death In Absentia For War Crimes, Treason

Former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila has been sentenced to death in absentia by a military court for war crimes, treason, and crimes against humanity, including murder, sexual assault, torture, and insurrection. The court found that Kabila supported the M23 rebel group, which has been responsible for renewed insurgency and violence in eastern Congo, capturing key territories and displacing over 1.5 million people in 2025. Kabila, who ruled from 2001 until 2019 before handing power to current President Félix Tshisekedi, has denied the charges, calling the trial politically motivated and arbitrary, with his current location unknown. Relations between Kabila and Tshisekedi deteriorated after a coalition government, culminating in Kabila's self-imposed exile and loss of parliamentary immunity, which allowed for his prosecution. The conflict in the mineral-rich eastern provinces continues despite a US-brokered peace agreement in June, with ongoing accusations against Rwanda for backing the M23 rebels, a charge denied by Kigali. Kabila was also ordered to pay billions in damages to the state and victims, highlighting the severe consequences of his conviction amid the long-standing turmoil in the DRC.