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.