The public prosecutor in the Democratic Republic of Congo has demanded the death penalty for former President Joseph Kabila, who is being tried in absentia on charges of treason, war crimes, and supporting the M23 rebel group. Kabila, who ruled the country from 2001 to 2019, is accused of backing Rwanda-linked rebels who have seized key cities in eastern Congo.
General Lucien Rene Likulia, representing the prosecution, also requested a 20-year sentence for Kabila’s alleged condoning of war crimes and 15 years for conspiracy. The prosecution’s case appears to center on Kabila’s alleged support for the M23 rebels, who have intensified the conflict in the mineral-rich eastern DRC.
Kabila’s allies have dismissed the trial as politically motivated, with Ferdinand Kambere, a former minister under Kabila, calling the move “a disgrace for the Republic.” Security analyst Henry-Pacifique Mayala also expressed concerns, stating that the prosecution’s case seems more like a “settling of scores” than a genuine pursuit of justice ¹.
The case against Kabila stems from his alleged links to the M23 rebel group, which has been accused of atrocities in the North and South Kivu provinces. The DRC government has accused Kabila of plotting to overthrow President Felix Tshisekedi, with whom he has had a strained relationship since 2020.
Kabila’s whereabouts are currently unknown, but he briefly returned to the country in April, appearing in rebel-held Goma. His return sparked tensions, with some viewing it as an attempt to exert influence over the region .
The DRC lifted its moratorium on the death penalty last year, but no judicial executions have been carried out since. A verdict date for Kabila’s trial has not been set.