Former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila has been sentenced to death in absentia by a military court on charges of treason, war crimes and crimes against humanity. He was accused of supporting the M23 rebel group, which has seized large parts of the country’s mineral-rich east.
Kabila, who led DR Congo for 18 years, denied the allegations but did not appear in court. He dismissed the case as arbitrary and politically motivated. His current whereabouts are unknown.
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The court also ordered him to pay a fine of 33 billion dollars. Allies of the former president, including ex-minister Kikaya Bin Karubi, described the trial as theatrical and accused President Félix Tshisekedi of using the judiciary as an instrument of oppression.
M23’s leader Bertrand Bisimwa said the ruling violated ongoing peace talks. Kabila, who returned from exile earlier this year, lost legal immunity after senators stripped it away in April, clearing the path for prosecution.
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