In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and beyond, former president Joseph Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia by a high military court in Kinshasa on October 1, 2025. The conviction, which includes charges of treason, war crimes, conspiracy, and crimes against humanity, stems from Kabila’s alleged collaboration with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group and his involvement in the bloody conflict that has devastated Congo’s mineral-rich east this year.
The courtroom verdict, delivered by Lieutenant-General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi, marks a historic and controversial chapter in Congo’s turbulent political landscape. According to CNN and other international sources, the Kinshasa military tribunal found Kabila guilty of supporting the M23 rebels, who in January 2025 launched a lightning assault, capturing key cities such as Goma and Bukavu. The conflict has resulted in approximately 3,000 deaths and displaced around 7 million people, worsening what was already one of the world’s most dire humanitarian crises.
Yet the fate of Joseph Kabila, who led the country from 2001 to 2019, remains a mystery. Tried in absentia since July, Kabila has not been seen in public since he was last spotted earlier this year in Goma—a city then under rebel control. His current whereabouts are unknown, and the court’s order for his immediate arrest leaves open questions about whether the sentence can ever be carried out. The former president was not represented by legal counsel during the trial, and neither he nor his representatives were available for comment at the time of sentencing, as reported by Reuters.
The government’s case against Kabila was built on a series of damning allegations. Prosecutors accused him of collaborating with Rwanda and the M23 group to orchestrate a rebellion aimed at toppling the government of current president Félix Tshisekedi. Central to the prosecution’s argument was the testimony of Eric Nkubu, the imprisoned former chief of staff to rebel leader Corneille Nangaa. Nkubu, who was himself convicted on rebellion charges in August 2024, claimed that Kabila regularly spoke with Nangaa by phone to discuss strategies for overthrowing President Tshisekedi. The court cited Nkubu’s testimony as pivotal evidence, stating, “Eric Nkubu said that Kabila regularly spoke with Nangaa by phone about how to topple the government of the incumbent president Félix Tshisekedi.”
The verdict was not limited to the death sentence. The high military court also ordered Kabila to pay staggering restitution: US$29 billion to the state, with an additional US$2 billion each earmarked for the war-torn provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu. In a separate ruling, the court ordered Kabila to pay US$50 billion in damages, as reported by The Associated Press. These financial penalties are unprecedented in Congolese legal history and underscore the gravity of the charges. Lieutenant-General Katalayi, presiding over the tribunal, declared, “In applying Article 7 of the Military Penal Code, it imposes a single sentence, namely the most severe one, which is the death penalty.”
Kabila has consistently denied the allegations, though he did express support for the rebel campaign in a February 2025 op-ed published in the South African newspaper Sunday Times. His political party, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, swiftly condemned the verdict as a political witch hunt. Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, the party’s permanent secretary, told The Associated Press, “We believe that the clear intention of the dictatorship in power is to eliminate, to neutralize, a major political actor.” The party described the court’s decision as “politically motivated and unfair,” arguing that the process was tainted by the current regime’s desire to sideline Kabila as a potential rival.
There were voices of approval as well. Richard Bondo, a lawyer representing North and South Kivu provinces, welcomed the ruling, stating, “Justice rendered in the name of the Congolese people gives satisfaction to its people.” Supporters of the court’s decision argue that it sends a strong message against impunity for political leaders accused of grave crimes, especially in a country where accountability has often been elusive.
Kabila’s journey to this point has been nothing short of extraordinary. He assumed the presidency at the age of 29 after the assassination of his father, Laurent-Désiré Kabila, in 2001. His rule, which lasted until 2019, was marked by both hope and controversy. He extended his mandate by delaying elections for two years after his term officially ended in 2017, a move that stoked widespread unrest and accusations of authoritarianism. His chosen successor lost the December 2018 election to Félix Tshisekedi, marking the country’s first peaceful transfer of power since independence, though the process was marred by allegations of irregularities.
After stepping down, Kabila lived abroad in self-imposed exile but returned to Goma in April 2025—a city then held by the M23 rebels. His return raised eyebrows and fueled speculation about his intentions and allegiances. The situation escalated in May when the Congolese Senate voted to lift Kabila’s immunity from prosecution, paving the way for the criminal case against him. Kabila denounced the move as despotic, a sentiment echoed by many of his supporters.
The broader context of the conflict in eastern Congo cannot be ignored. The M23 rebellion, widely believed to be backed by Rwanda, has destabilized the region for years, exploiting ethnic tensions and the DRC’s vast mineral wealth. The group’s January 2025 offensive and subsequent occupation of major cities like Goma and Bukavu represented a significant escalation, drawing international condemnation and sparking fears of wider regional instability. The humanitarian cost has been staggering, with thousands killed and millions forced to flee their homes.
The political implications of Kabila’s conviction are profound and hotly debated. Supporters of President Tshisekedi’s government argue that the verdict is a necessary step toward justice and accountability, especially after decades of impunity for high-level officials. They point to the detailed evidence and the court’s thorough process as a sign that the DRC’s institutions are maturing. Critics, however, see the trial as a politically motivated effort to eliminate a powerful rival and consolidate power ahead of future elections. They warn that the verdict could deepen divisions and fuel further unrest in a nation already on edge.
As the dust settles, the fate of Joseph Kabila remains uncertain. His absence from the trial and unknown location have only added to the intrigue and speculation swirling around his case. What is clear, however, is that the DRC has entered uncharted territory, grappling with the legacy of its past leaders while facing the daunting challenges of war, displacement, and political transition.
The story of Joseph Kabila’s conviction will undoubtedly shape the DRC’s future—politically, legally, and morally—for years to come.
