A military court in Kinshasa has sentenced former
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila to death in
absentia, finding him guilty of treason and backing the M23 rebel movement
in the country’s mineral-rich eastern provinces.
The court ruled that Kabila, who governed from 2001 to
2019, conspired with Rwanda-backed rebels to destabilize his successor,
President Félix Tshisekedi. Prosecutors alleged he financed and directed M23
operations, which have been accused of murder, rape, torture, and mass
displacement. Alongside the death penalty, the court imposed a $29
billion fine for conflict-related damages.
Kabila, 53, has denied the charges, describing the
case as politically motivated and accusing Tshisekedi of dictatorship. His
advisers have yet to comment on the verdict.
The ruling escalates tensions between Tshisekedi’s
government and the former leader, who still wields influence through his
Congolese People’s Party. Analysts warn the judgment could deepen instability
in eastern DRC, where M23 and other armed groups continue to exploit gold,
coltan, and other resources to fund violence.
International observers have voiced concern that the
verdict risks aggravating Congo’s already fragile security environment. The
enforceability of the sentence remains unclear, given Kabila’s absence from the
country and shifting regional alliances.
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