A military court in Kinshasa has begun legal proceedings against former president Joseph Kabila, accusing him of supporting the M23 rebel movement.
The High Military Court opened the case on July 25 in the Gombe district, though Kabila was absent, residing abroad and tried in his absence .
The charges include treason, murder, rape, torture, crimes against humanity, and plans to overthrow the government by supporting the M23 group in eastern DRC.
Government officials claim Kabila acted as a key backer of the Rwanda‑linked rebel faction, which has seized control of strategic areas such as Goma and Bukavu. Kabila denies all accusations and says he had no ties to M23 .
Kabila governed the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2001 to 2019. After stepping down, he became a senator for life.
In May of this year, the Senate voted 88 to 5 to remove his immunity so he could face trial; shortly after, he made visits to cities under rebel control, including Goma, drawing swift criticism from officials .
During the opening hearing, the military court confirmed it had jurisdiction, and defence lawyers requested time to study the case documents—a request the court granted. The next session is set for July 31 .
The trial is closely watched across the nation. Observers are paying attention to how the court will handle alleged war crimes and political rivalry surrounding Kabila’s return to the country after years of exile .