Joseph Kabila, the former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been sentenced to death in absentia by a military court in Kinshasa. He was found guilty of treason, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, sexual violence, and inciting rebellion. The court ruled that Kabila supported the M23 rebel group during their violent campaign in eastern Congo, contributing to widespread unrest and human rights abuses.
Alongside the death sentence, Kabila was ordered to pay nearly $33 billion in reparations to the Congolese state and the affected provinces. Kabila, who ruled the country for 18 years after succeeding his father in 2001, has denied all charges and decried the trial as politically motivated.
Tried in absentia since July 2025, Kabila has remained in exile, and his supporters warn the verdict may lead to further instability in the region. This landmark ruling follows the removal of his political immunity earlier in 2025, intensifying the complex conflict that continues to affect the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern provinces.