Congo Military Court Sentences Former President Kabila to Death for Treason

PTI, Kinshasa, September 30, 2025 : A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has convicted former President Joseph Kabila of treason and other serious charges, sentencing him to death in a verdict delivered on Tuesday. Kabila was tried in absentia, and his current whereabouts remain unknown.

The former president faced charges of treason, involvement in an insurrection movement, conspiracy, and supporting terrorism. The prosecution alleged that Kabila had collaborated with Rwanda and the M23 rebel group, which captured several key cities in eastern Congo in a swift military offensive earlier this year. The government maintains that Kabila supported the rebels' efforts and played a role in destabilizing the region. Kabila has consistently denied all allegations.

In May, Congo's Senate voted to revoke Kabila’s immunity from prosecution—an act the former leader described at the time as authoritarian and politically motivated.

Kabila, who had been living in self-imposed exile outside Congo, returned briefly in April to Goma—one of the cities now under M23 control. It is unclear whether he remained in the country after that visit.

The court’s decision marks a dramatic and unprecedented development in Congolese politics. Kabila served as president from 2001 to 2019 and was once considered a powerful figure in the nation’s political landscape. His conviction, particularly on charges of treason, underscores rising tensions and the volatile security situation in the region.

As of now, the government has not provided further details on efforts to locate or extradite Kabila.