A Democratic Republic of Congo military prosecutor has demanded that former President Joseph Kabila receive the death penalty after he was accused in absentia of treason and war crimes.
General Lucien Rene Likulia asked judges on Friday to hand down the maximum punishment for Kabila, alleging that he conspired with Rwanda-backed rebels, fueled an uprising, and attempted to overthrow his successor, President Felix Tshisekedi.
The ousted leader, residing outside the country for two years, is also accused of homicide, torture, rape, and supporting the M23 rebel movement, which took the eastern city of Goma for a few days in January before agreeing to a truce in July.
Kabila has condemned the proceedings, calling the courts in the Democratic Republic of Congo "an instrument of oppression." Even after resigning in 2009 after a nearly ten-year reign, he is still a polarizing and powerful presence in Congolese politics.
The charge sheet also names him as a founder of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), the M23 political branch. He is accused of conspiring with Rwanda to overthrow Tshisekedi by force and for being responsible for rebel atrocities in North and South Kivu provinces.
Though Rwanda has consistently denied support, United Nations officials have stated that the military backing of Kigali contributed "critically" to the recent attack by M23. The rebel movement has driven thousands from their homes and captured vast swaths of the mineral-rich eastern territory since its re-activation in 2021.
The charges underscore the extent of divisions within Congolese politics and the precarious nature of security in the east, which has suffered decades of conflict with weapons. Tshisekedi has referred to Kabila as "the brains" of the M23's rebellion, making the trial part of an overall battle against destabilization.
M23 political leadership, however, has attempted to distance itself from Kabila, with AFC executive secretary Benjamin Mbonimpa downplaying the trial as a "malevolent strategy" against the former president.
Although the DRC revived the death penalty in 2023, no executions have yet been carried out. Nonetheless, the prosecutor's recommendation highlights the seriousness of the case and its likely potential to reorder the political landscape.
Kabila’s legacy continues to cast a long shadow over Congolese politics. From exile, he has condemned Tshisekedi’s administration as a dictatorship, even as conflict in the country’s east intensifies and international scrutiny grows.
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