Former DRC president Kabila sentenced to death, fined $33 million 

A High Military Court in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has sentenced former president Joseph Kabila to death in absentia after he reportedly pleaded guilty to more than 120 charges, including war crimes, rape, murder, treason, conspiracy, and condoning atrocities.

In addition to the death sentence, the court also ordered Kabila to pay $33 billion in damages to the Congolese government. The judges described the charges as extremely serious and said they had scandalised millions of Congolese citizens while gravely undermining the dignity, sovereignty, and loyalty expected of a former head of state.

According to the ruling, despite leaving office in 2019, Kabila has continued to play a commanding role in the country’s conflicts. The judges asserted that he remains the undisputed leader of various rebel movements, dating back to the Mutebusi rebellion, and is actively involved in M23’s military operations.

The court alleged that Kabila has personally conducted inspections at M23 training camps, chaired rebel meetings, and overseen hostilities against the Congolese government. The verdict comes months after the Congolese government announced in April that it was initiating legal proceedings against Kabila following his highly controversial visit to Goma, a city under M23 rebels.

Authorities also ordered the seizure of all Kabila’s assets and placed a nationwide suspension on the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Development (PPRD), Kabila’s political party, citing its alleged links to rebel movements.

Several senior PPRD officials were arrested and questioned as part of the crackdown. The case adds another layer to the complex conflict in eastern Congo, where the resurgence of the M23 rebel group has displaced hundreds of thousands and strained relations between Kinshasa and its regional partners.

Last year, M23 announced Kabila’s official arrival in Goma, saying he would take up residence in the city. Since then, the former president has been seen meeting religious leaders and frequently appearing alongside senior M23 commanders, actions that many observers view as evidence of his alignment with the group.