Joseph Kabila, the former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been sentenced to death in absentia by a military court on charges of war crimes and treason.

Kabila, 54, who led the country for 18 years following the assassination of his father Laurent in 2001, was found guilty of treason, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. These charges included murder, sexual assault, torture, and inciting insurrection. The case is tied to accusations that he supported the M23 rebel group, which has caused widespread devastation in eastern DR Congo.

Although he denied the allegations, Kabila did not appear in court to defend himself. He dismissed the proceedings as "arbitrary" and claimed the judiciary was being used as an "instrument of oppression". His location remains unknown.

Tensions between Kabila and his successor, President Félix Tshisekedi, have been escalating since the disputed 2019 election, during which Kabila backed Tshisekedi. However, their alliance deteriorated, and Kabila went into self-imposed exile in 2023.

In April of this year, Kabila expressed a desire to help resolve the deadly conflict in the east. The following month, he was seen in Goma, a city under the control of M23 rebels. This visit intensified suspicions, and President Tshisekedi publicly accused him of masterminding the rebel group’s resurgence.

Subsequently, senators voted to strip Kabila of his legal immunity, allowing for his prosecution. This development came amid a worsening crisis, as the M23 had taken control of significant parts of the resource-rich eastern region, including Goma, Bukavu, and two major airports.