DR Congo Court sentences Former President Joseph Kabila to death for treason

A military court in Kinshasa has sentenced former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) president Joseph Kabila to death. He was found guilty of treason along with several other charges.

The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, also convicted Kabila of war crimes, conspiracy, supporting terrorism, and involvement in an insurrection movement. His current whereabouts remain unknown.

According to Congolese authorities, Kabila allegedly collaborated with neighboring Rwanda and the M23 rebel group, which captured strategic cities in the country’s eastern region during a swift offensive in January. The government claims his actions undermined national security and fueled instability.

Kabila, however, has rejected the accusations. The former leader was last seen publicly in May, when he attended a meeting with religious leaders in Goma, North Kivu, aimed at seeking solutions to the crisis in eastern Congo, where Rwanda-backed rebels have taken large swathes of territory.

The verdict marks an unprecedented moment in Congolese politics, as Kabila—who ruled the country for nearly two decades before stepping down in 2019—becomes the first former head of state to face such a severe sentence.