A military court in Kinshasa on Tuesday sentenced former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila to death in absentia, convicting him on charges of treason, terrorism, and war crimes. The sweeping verdict against the 54-year-old ex-leader included allegations of murder, torture, sexual assault, and conspiracy to support the M23 rebel insurgency in eastern Congo.
Kabila, who ruled the DRC from 2001 until 2018, rose to power after the assassination of his father, Laurent-Désiré Kabila. His presidency was marred by corruption accusations, delayed elections, and violent crackdowns on dissent. He ultimately stepped down in 2018 after widespread protests but retained influence as a “senator for life” until President Felix Tshisekedi stripped him of immunity in May 2025.
The court found Kabila guilty of directing or supporting M23 rebels, who have seized large portions of eastern Congo in recent years. Judges cited testimony from a captured rebel officer alleging that Kabila spoke regularly with M23 leader Corneille Nangaa about overthrowing Tshisekedi’s government. The tribunal also ordered Kabila to pay $33 billion in reparations for moral, ecological, and infrastructural damage linked to the insurgency.
Kabila has not been seen publicly since May, when he appeared in Goma for a meeting with religious leaders. His current whereabouts are unknown, though reports have placed him in South Africa or in rebel-controlled eastern Congo. He denies commanding M23 but has voiced support for the group and called on Kinshasa to negotiate with them.
The sentencing could destabilize the fragile political environment in Congo. Kabila’s party, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, condemned the ruling as a “political, unfair decision” aimed at sidelining him as a rival. Observers warn the verdict may inflame tensions among Kabila loyalists while complicating international peace efforts.
President Donald Trump, who brokered a peace agreement between Congo and Rwanda in June, is watching the fallout closely. The deal was meant to stabilize eastern Congo and open the door for American companies to invest in mining and infrastructure. Analysts fear that Kabila’s conviction could weaken the accord and fuel further clashes between Kinshasa and Rwanda.
