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Tag: DRC

Former DRC President Joseph Kabila Sentenced to Death in Absentia for Treason War Crimes

Fola Badmus05 mins

Kinshasa, Sept 30, 2025 – A military tribunal in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has sentenced former President Joseph Kabila to death in absentia, convicting him of treason, murder, torture, and crimes against humanity. Presiding over the case, Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi said the tribunal applied Article 7 of the Military Penal Code, which mandates the death penalty for the most serious crimes. The sentencing follows a months-long trial that began in July 2025, during which Kabila was tried for his alleged involvement with the M23 rebel group, which has seized large parts of eastern DRC this year. “In applying Article 7 of the Military Penal Code, it imposes a single sentence, namely the most severe one, which is the death penalty,” said Katalayi. Kabila, who ruled the DRC from 2001 to 2019, has not been present in court and was not represented by legal counsel. He left the country in 2023 but resurfaced earlier this year in Goma, a city now controlled by M23 rebels. His current whereabouts remain unknown. Accusations of Rebellion and War Crimes The court found Kabila guilty of supporting M23 — a group widely believed to be backed by Rwanda, despite Kigali’s repeated denials. United Nations experts have reported that the Rwandan military played a “critical” role in the group’s resurgence. Charges against Kabila also included insurrection, sexual assault, and the orchestration of mass atrocities, including torture and rape — all linked to ongoing violence in eastern DRC. Kabila had previously dismissed the trial as a “political witch hunt”, claiming the judiciary was being used as an “instrument of oppression” by the current administration under President Félix Tshisekedi. Political Ramifications and Reactions The sentencing follows a controversial move by the DRC Senate in May 2025 to lift Kabila’s immunity from prosecution. Many observers believe the verdict is politically motivated, aimed at preventing Kabila from mobilising the opposition ahead of upcoming elections. “This sentencing could make Kabila’s supporters feel that this trial is politically driven,” said Yinka Adegoke, Africa editor at Semafor, in an interview with Al Jazeera. “He has his own power base and no longer serves the interests of the current government.” Despite the court’s ruling, Kabila’s arrest remains unlikely. He may still appeal the verdict through the Court of Cassation, though only on procedural grounds. The death penalty was reinstated in the DRC last year, ending a decades-long moratorium, but no executions have yet been carried out. Regional Tensions and International Scrutiny Kabila’s sentencing comes amid fragile peace efforts in the region. A Congolese-Rwandan peace agreement was brokered in Washington in June, followed by a ceasefire declaration with M23 in Qatar in July. However, violence continues across eastern DRC, where NGOs and UN investigations have documented serious human rights abuses by all sides. A recent UN report concluded that multiple actors in the conflict may have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, fueling calls for accountability and renewed international attention.

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DRC prosecutor seeks death penalty for former leader Joseph Kabila

DRC Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty for Former President Joseph Kabila

Fola Badmus05 mins

A military prosecutor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has called for the death penalty for former President Joseph Kabila, who is on trial in absentia for war crimes, treason, and plotting to overthrow the government. Speaking at a military court on Friday, General Lucien René Likulia, the DRC’s military auditor general, urged judges to condemn Kabila for crimes including homicide, torture, and inciting insurrection. The charges are tied to the former president’s alleged support for the M23 rebel group, which has seized large portions of eastern DRC in recent months. Kabila, who ruled the DRC from 2001 to 2019, is accused of collaborating with Rwanda to support M23 fighters in their campaign to destabilise the mineral-rich eastern region. He has been living abroad, primarily in South Africa, since 2023, and denies all allegations. Accusations Tied to M23 Offensive The indictment, seen by AFP, links Kabila to a series of violent events, including the forcible capture of Goma by M23 in January. He is also accused of leading efforts to topple President Félix Tshisekedi and of founding the Congo River Alliance (AFC), described by authorities as the political wing of M23. The military prosecution alleges Kabila colluded with Rwandan officials to launch a “forceful overthrow of the government” and holds him responsible for atrocities committed by M23 in North and South Kivu provinces. Kabila’s appearance in rebel-held territory in May — where he met local religious leaders in the presence of M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka — was cited as further evidence of his connection to the group. Rwanda has denied involvement, though UN experts report that the Rwandan military has played a “critical” role in M23’s resurgence. Political Fallout Kabila has denounced the trial as politically motivated, calling it “an instrument of oppression.” His party, the Common Front for Congo (FCC), echoed his claims, labelling the prosecution an act of “relentlessness and persecution.” In April, Kabila announced plans to return to the DRC to “promote peace” in the embattled east. The government responded swiftly by banning his party and freezing his assets. The DRC Senate lifted his immunity in May, clearing the way for prosecution. Despite the DRC lifting its moratorium on capital punishment last year, no executions have been carried out in decades. Human rights organisations have raised concerns about the return of the death penalty amid heightened political tensions. Regional and International Implications Kabila’s trial comes at a volatile time for the DRC, with the government struggling to contain multiple armed groups operating in the east. The conflict has intensified since the re-emergence of M23 in 2021, displacing hundreds of thousands and drawing international concern. Although Kabila left office in 2019 and has since resided abroad, he remains a significant political figure. He has frequently criticised President Tshisekedi’s administration, accusing it of authoritarianism and mismanagement. As the trial continues, the DRC faces growing scrutiny over its use of the judiciary in politically sensitive cases, and whether this marks a legitimate effort at accountability — or a purge of opposition figures ahead of the 2026 general elections. Sources: 22 August 2025 | By Al Jazeera

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UN Report Accuses Rwanda and Uganda of Fueling Conflict in Eastern DRC

Fola Badmus07 mins

A confidential United Nations experts’ report has accused Rwanda of exercising command and control over the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and alleged that Uganda has unilaterally doubled its military presence in the region without Kinshasa’s consent. The yet-to-be-published report, which was submitted to the UN Security Council in May and reviewed by Al Jazeera and other media outlets, paints a grim picture of escalating regional tensions, widespread human rights violations, and economic exploitation in mineral-rich eastern Congo. Rwanda’s Alleged Role and Mineral Looting According to the UN experts, Rwanda: The report states that Rwanda’s involvement “meets the threshold for international liability” and could trigger sanctions for state sponsorship of armed groups. However, President Paul Kagame dismissed the allegations as “biased and unfounded,” accusing the UN of ignoring the security threat posed by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed militia linked to perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Uganda’s Military Expansion The UN report also implicates Uganda, alleging: Uganda defended its operations, saying they were aimed at neutralizing the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Uganda-linked rebel group active in eastern Congo.Ugandan Ambassador Adonia Ayebare described the UN findings as “falsehoods,” while army chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba accused the UN experts of bias, saying, “While they write their reports, we continue saving lives in the region.” Kinshasa and Wazalendo Militias The report also criticizes the Congolese government for: “These abuses occurred in a climate of impunity and reflect the weakening chain of command within the Congolese army,” the report states. Regional Dynamics and Hidden Agendas Experts believe the renewed conflict is driven not only by security concerns but also by economic interests in Congo’s vast mineral reserves.Kristof Titeca, a researcher at the University of Antwerp, told Al Jazeera: “Kigali and Kampala have overlapping ambitions in eastern DRC. They cooperate at times but also compete fiercely over influence, trade routes, and access to minerals.” Analysts say Uganda’s recent troop surge may be a reaction to Rwanda’s growing dominance via M23, raising fears of a proxy war between the two countries inside Congo. Humanitarian Toll and Global Concern Since the resurgence of M23 in 2024: Volker Turk, UN Human Rights Chief, called the situation “a human catastrophe”, urging all parties to stop violations of international humanitarian law and allow aid delivery. Peace Efforts Under Strain The revelations in the UN report threaten to derail recent US-brokered peace agreements and Qatar-mediated dialogue between Kinshasa and M23.While Rwanda and Uganda have dismissed the findings, civil society groups insist the report underscores the need for regional accountability mechanisms and stricter sanctions against those fueling the conflict.

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