Nairobi, Kenya – October 1, 2025 – Former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila has been sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes and treason.

According to a ruling delivered by a Congolese military court, Kabila was found guilty of treason, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, including murder, sexual assault, torture, and insurrection. He denied the charges and dismissed the case as “arbitrary,” but did not appear in court to defend himself.

The 54-year-old, who led DR Congo for 18 years after the assassination of his father Laurent Kabila in 2001, has been in self-imposed exile since 2023. His current whereabouts remain unknown.

Kabila handed over power to President Félix Tshisekedi in 2019. However, their political alliance quickly collapsed, and Tshisekedi later accused him of backing the M23 rebel group.

In April 2025, Kabila announced plans to help resolve the deadly fighting in eastern Congo and traveled to the rebel-held city of Goma. Soon after, Congolese senators stripped him of legal immunity, clearing the way for his prosecution.

The conflict escalated this year when the M23 seized control of large parts of the mineral-rich east, including Goma, Bukavu, and key airports. The United Nations and several Western governments accused Rwanda of backing the militia, claims that Kigali denies.

Despite a July ceasefire, fighting continues to displace thousands. Humanitarian agencies such as OCHA warn of worsening conditions.

The decades-long unrest in eastern Congo threatens regional stability, with fears the violence could spill into neighboring countries. The crisis also underscores the challenges of peacekeeping and governance in Africa’s Great Lakes region.

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