Congo’s Former President Sentenced to Death in Absentia
- On Tuesday, a military court in Congo convicted former President Joseph Kabila of treason and sentenced him to death while he remained on trial in absentia.
- In May, the Senate repealed Kabila’s legal immunity, clearing the way for prosecution after President Félix Tshisekedi accused him of collaborating with Rwanda and the M23 rebel group.
- Prosecutors accused Kabila of treason, insurrection, conspiracy and supporting terrorism, and the prosecutor sought the death penalty ahead of sentencing.
- Kabila denied the allegations and called the proceedings `arbitrary`, labeling courts an `instrument of oppression`; he returned in April to Goma and his current whereabouts are unknown.
- The UN and several Western countries accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group, which seized Goma, Bukavu and two airports earlier this year; Kigali denies these charges.
A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has convicted the longtime former president of the country, Joseph Kabila, of crimes including treason and crimes against humanity, and sentenced him to death in absentia.
The Congolese government accused Mr. Kabila of collaborating with the M23, a rebel group backed by Rwanda that seized swaths of eastern Congo early this year, including two major cities. Previously, he served as president of the central African country for nearly two decades.
In a verdict that took more than four hours to read out on Tuesday, he was also convicted of war crimes, murder, sexual assault, torture, involvement in an insurrection movement, conspiracy and supporting terrorism.
But Mr. Kabila was not present for any of the proceedings, and in his absence it is unlikely that the court will be able to carry out his sentence.
Mr. Kabila’s chosen candidate lost the 2018 election, when an opposition figure, Felix Tshisekedi, was named the winner. Independent observers said that the real winner was another opposition figure, Martin Fayulu, but Mr. Kabila handed power to Mr. Tshisekedi, whom he considered to be a more acceptable ally.
The alliance between Mr. Tshisekedi and Mr. Kabila quickly fell apart, and Mr. Kabila went into self-imposed exile in 2023.
In May, he live-streamed a speech criticizing the Tshisekedi government, and then paid a highly publicized visit to the rebel-held city of Goma.
It is not known where Mr. Kabila is currently living.
