The High Military Court of the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced former President Joseph Kabila to death in absentia, following a landmark ruling on Tuesday.
Joseph Kabila was found guilty of multiple serious charges, including treason, crimes against humanity, and conspiracy.
The court’s decision comes after a months-long trial that began in July, shortly after the Senate lifted Kabila’s immunity in May. Prosecutors accused the former leader of backing the M23 rebel group, which has been responsible for widespread violence in eastern Congo.
The charges against Kabila included leading an insurrection, ordering killings, torture, rape, and orchestrating the violent takeover of Goma,the capital of North Kivu province now under M23 control.
Alongside the death sentence, the court also imposed a 15-year prison term for conspiracy.
Kabila, who governed the DRC from 2001 to 2019, has been living primarily in South Africa since 2023. While he has made occasional visits to North Kivu this year, he did not appear at any point during the trial. The prosecution presented a mix of witness testimonies, video footage, and media interviews to support its case.
In May, Kabila publicly expressed his readiness to help resolve the escalating crisis in eastern Congo. However, his conviction comes amid intensifying conflict between government forces and M23 rebels, who have seized key towns including Goma and Bukavu, further destabilizing a region long plagued by war.
The ruling marks an unprecedented legal action against a former Congolese head of state, reflecting both the severity of the current conflict and growing demands for accountability in the region.