Former Dr Congo President Joseph Kabila Sentenced To Death For War Crimes.

A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has sentenced former President Joseph Kabila to death in absentia after finding him guilty of war crimes and related offenses,according to the BBC.

Kabila, 54, ruled the DRC for 18 years after succeeding his father, Laurent Kabila, who was assassinated in 2001. He stepped down in 2019, handing over power to current President Félix Tshisekedi, but relations between the two leaders later soured.

In 2023, Kabila went into self-imposed exile. However, earlier this year he re-emerged on the political stage, declaring his intention to help resolve the violent conflict in the country’s east. In May, he traveled to the M23-held city of Goma, sparking tensions with the government.

President Tshisekedi accused Kabila of being the mastermind behind the M23 rebel group, which has seized large swathes of the mineral-rich eastern region, including Goma, Bukavu, and key airports. Senators subsequently stripped Kabila of his legal immunity, paving the way for his prosecution.

The court’s ruling comes amid escalating violence despite a July ceasefire agreement between government forces and the M23. Fighting has persisted, leaving thousands displaced.

The United Nations and several Western countries have accused neighboring Rwanda of supporting the rebels and deploying troops inside Congolese territory. Kigali, however, denies the allegations, insisting its actions are aimed at preventing instability from spilling across its borders.

Kabila, convicted in absentia, has not publicly responded to the verdict. His sentencing marks a historic moment in the DRC, where former leaders have rarely faced such severe legal consequences.