The former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila, has been given a death sentence by a military court. This harsh punishment was handed down in absentia, meaning he was not there in court. The court found him guilty of serious charges, including treason and war crimes. Specifically, the accusations center on the claim that Joseph Kabila has been giving support to the M23 rebel group. This group has caused major destruction in the eastern part of the country.
The military court convicted Kabila of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and treason. These terrible acts include murder, sexual assault, torture, and working to start an uprising. Kabila completely denied all these charges. He chose not to appear in court to defend himself.
The former leader called the whole court case “unfair” and said the courts were being used as a tool to oppress people. His exact location right now is not known. The court also ordered Kabila to pay a huge fine of $33 billion.
One of Kabila’s close friends, a former minister named Kikaya Bin Karubi, told the BBC that the entire trial was like a play. He said it showed the dictatorship of the current President, Félix Tshisekedi. Karubi also stated that the court saw no proof that linked Joseph Kabila to the M23 rebel group. The M23 leader, Bertrand Bisimwa, even said that this sentence breaks the peace talks they were having with the government.
Kabila, who is 54, was the leader of the DRC for 18 years. He took over after his father, Laurent, was shot and killed in 2001. Kabila supported Tshisekedi in the 2019 election, but they later became enemies. Kabila then chose to leave the country in 2023.
Earlier this year, the ex-president said he wanted to help stop the deadly fighting in the east. The following month, he arrived in the city of Goma, which the M23 controls. President Tshisekedi accused Joseph Kabila of being the main person directing the M23 group. As a result, senators removed Kabila’s legal protection, allowing the court case to move forward. The conflict has been getting worse, especially after the M23 took over large, mineral-rich areas in the east.
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