Congo Seeks Death Penalty for Kabila
Former leader Joseph Kabila accused of war crimes, treason.
Congo’s public prosecutor has demanded the death penalty for former President Joseph Kabila, who is being tried in absentia for treason and war crimes linked to his alleged support for the M23 rebel group. The trial, which began in July, has sent shockwaves through the Democratic Republic of Congo, raising questions about political motives and the nation’s turbulent history.
Kabila, who ruled Congo from 2001 to 2019, faces charges of war crimes, murder, and rape, stemming from his alleged ties to the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. The group has recently captured key cities and towns in eastern Congo, intensifying the region’s long-standing conflict. The prosecution, led by Gen. Lucien Rene Likulia, also requested a 20-year sentence for Kabila’s alleged role in condoning war crimes and an additional 15 years for conspiracy, though specifics on these charges remain unclear.
Kabila’s journey to the presidency began at age 29, following the assassination of his father, former President Laurent Kabila, in 2001. His tenure was marked by controversy, including delaying elections for two years after his term ended in 2017, a move that fueled public unrest. After stepping down in 2019, Kabila went into self-imposed exile in 2023, only to reappear in the rebel-held city of Goma in April 2025, following a swift M23 offensive.
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The trial has sparked fierce debate. Kabila’s supporters, including Ferdinand Kambere, a former minister and head of Kabila’s People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), argue the case is a politically motivated attack. Kabila’s immunity as a senator-for-life was revoked in May, a move Kambere called “a disgrace for the Republic.” Critics of the trial, such as Henry-Pacifique Mayala of the Kivu Security Tracker, describe the prosecution’s demands as a “settling of scores” rather than a pursuit of justice.
President Felix Tshisekedi has publicly accused Kabila of collaborating with M23 rebels to orchestrate an insurrection, a claim Kabila denies. The former president’s current whereabouts remain unknown, adding to the mystery surrounding the case. No date has been set for the verdict, leaving Congo on edge as the trial unfolds.
The case has drawn international attention, with analysts warning it could deepen divisions in a country already grappling with violence and instability. For many Congolese, the trial represents a pivotal moment in addressing accountability for the nation’s leaders, but others fear it may fuel further unrest in an already volatile region
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