The Democratic Republic of Congo’s High Military Court has sentenced former president Joseph Kabila to death in absentia on charges ranging from treason to crimes against humanity.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, found Kabila guilty of a string of offences, including leading an insurrection, intentional killings, torture, rape, and the forced occupation of Goma, the North Kivu provincial capital now under the control of M23 rebels. In addition to the death sentence, he was handed a 15-year prison term for conspiracy.
The trial began in July after the Congolese Senate lifted Kabila’s parliamentary immunity in May. The former head of state, who did not attend the proceedings, was accused by prosecutors of backing M23 rebels and fuelling atrocities in the country’s conflict-torn east. Testimonies from witnesses, video evidence, and media interviews were presented to support the charges.
Kabila, who ruled the DRC from 2001 until 2019, has largely lived in South Africa since 2023 but has made occasional appearances in North Kivu this year. In May, he publicly declared his willingness to “contribute to finding a solution” to the worsening crisis in the region.
The verdict comes against the backdrop of escalating violence in eastern Congo. Since January, fighting between government forces and M23 rebels has intensified, with the group seizing control of key towns, including Goma and Bukavu, deepening instability in a region already scarred by decades of conflict.
