On Tuesday, September 30, 2025, a military court in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), sentenced former president Joseph Kabila to death in absentia. He was found guilty of serious offenses, including treason, murder, sexual violence, torture, and supporting the M23 rebel group, which is allegedly linked to Rwanda.
Kabila, who ruled the country from 2001 to 2019, did not attend the trial and had no defense lawyer present. Reports indicate that he has been in Goma, a city under M23 control, since April 2025. The court also ordered Kabila to pay $33 billion in reparations—$29 billion to the DRC government and $2 billion to be divided among North and South Kivu provinces.
The ruling comes amid escalating conflict in eastern DRC, where over 3,000 people have been killed and more than 7 million displaced. President Félix Tshisekedi’s government accuses Kabila of supporting the M23 rebellion, which has plunged the region into prolonged instability.
Kabila has denied all allegations, claiming the trial was politically motivated and lacked proper investigation. He remains in exile, and his exact whereabouts are currently unknown.
This verdict is expected to further complicate DRC’s political landscape, raising concerns about the use of the judiciary for political purposes and potential denial of justice for opposition figures.