World News
Joseph Kabila Sentenced to Death in Absentia Over Rebel Ties
Joseph Kabila, the former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo who ruled for 18 years, has been sentenced to death in absentia by a military court in a stunning fall from grace.
The 54-year-old ex-leader was found guilty of treason, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, including murder, sexual assault, torture, and insurrection. The verdict, delivered without Kabila present, marks one of the most dramatic moments in the country’s modern history.
Accused of Rebel Ties
At the heart of the charges are accusations linking Kabila to the M23 rebel group, whose violent campaign has ravaged the country’s eastern provinces. The group’s resurgence has displaced thousands and reignited fears of prolonged instability in the mineral-rich region.
Kabila, speaking from an undisclosed location, blasted the ruling as politically motivated.
“This is arbitrary. The courts have become an instrument of oppression,” he said in a statement.
He did not attend the proceedings, which were concluded without his presence.
A Rift Between Old Allies
Kabila inherited the presidency after the assassination of his father in 2001 and formally stepped down in 2019, handing power to Félix Tshisekedi. Initially allies, the two leaders soon fell out. By 2023, Kabila had gone into self-imposed exile.
His surprise reappearance in Goma, an M23 stronghold, earlier this year — framed as an attempt to broker peace — was interpreted by many as a political challenge. Tshisekedi swiftly accused him of masterminding the rebellion, prompting lawmakers to strip Kabila of his legal immunity and paving the way for trial.
A Nation in Turmoil
The verdict comes as the M23 continues to control vast areas of eastern Congo despite international efforts to broker peace. A ceasefire signed in July has done little to halt violence, with civilians bearing the brunt of attacks.
For many Congolese, Kabila’s sentencing underscores both the depth of the country’s crisis and the widening political divide between past and present leadership.
Whether the former president will ever face arrest — or if the judgment will deepen the country’s instability — remains uncertain. What is clear is that Congo is now entering uncharted territory, with its former head of state condemned to death while conflict rages on.
Russian authorities have moved to block Meta-owned WhatsApp across the country, citing the company’s failure to meet domestic legal requirements.
Officials say Meta did not establish a local office, declined to cooperate with data-sharing demands, and failed to remove content deemed unlawful.
The government has also linked the messaging platform to cases of fraud and alleged extremist activities.
Following the shutdown, many users in Russia are migrating to alternative platforms such as Telegram, VK Messenger, Yandex Messenger, and the government-supported MAX application.
Dalisto Lungu, the son of Zambia’s late former president Edgar Lungu, has been stripped of assets worth more than US$1.26 million after a ruling by the Economic and Financial Crimes Court.
The court found that the properties were obtained through illicit means and ordered their forfeiture to the state. The seized assets include 79 motor vehicles, over 20 pieces of land located in various parts of Zambia, as well as a fuel service station.
In its judgment, the EFCC stated that Lungu failed to provide credible evidence of a lawful income or business operations that could reasonably explain his accumulation of such wealth.
Lungu disputed the allegations, insisting that the properties were legally acquired. However, the court ruled that his explanation was insufficient to counter the state’s case, paving the way for the assets to be confiscated.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has dismissed online allegations suggesting that its founder, Bill Gates, is responsible for a surge in mosquito populations in Kenya.
Responding on X, the foundation clarified that it does not run mosquito laboratories nor release mosquitoes in Nairobi or anywhere else in the country.
It emphasized that all its health-related initiatives are carried out in support of Kenya’s own priorities and strictly follow government regulations.
The statement came after claims shared by Kenyan lawyer and politician Paul Muite gained traction on social media, sparking intense public discussion.
Some posts alleged that genetically modified mosquitoes were being produced and released on a large scale, claims the foundation described as completely untrue.
The controversy has emerged against the backdrop of continued concern over malaria, which remains a serious public health issue in the region.
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