• Former DRC President Joseph Kabila sentenced to death in absentia for multiple crimes.
• Kabila was found guilty of treason, war crimes, and complicity with the M23 rebel group.
• The trial took place without Kabila's presence and concluded rapidly, raising concerns about fairness.

A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) sentenced former President Joseph Kabila to death in absentia on September 30, 2025. The conviction includes charges of treason, war crimes, conspiracy, and support for the M23 rebel group, which has seized control of significant regions in eastern Congo with alleged support from neighboring Rwanda. Kabila's trial commenced in July, after a vote in the Senate led to the repeal of his parliamentary immunity, enabling legal proceedings against him to move forward, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, BBC, and Le Monde.

The military tribunal was presided over by Lieutenant-General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi, who stated that Kabila was guilty of severe crimes such as murder, torture, and insurrection. Observers have criticized the expedited trial as politically motivated, particularly noting that Kabila was not present for any of the proceedings. He has denied the allegations, claiming that the judicial actions against him are instruments of oppression, according to Africanews, Los Angeles Times, and South China Morning Post.

Kabila led the DRC from 2001 to 2019 and had recently returned to eastern Congo in May after years of self-imposed exile. His recent visit to Goma raised concerns among officials in Kinshasa, particularly with his alleged ties to the M23 group, which has escalated conflict in the region. The military court's decision reflects ongoing tensions, as the DRC continues to grapple with a persistent security crisis filled with violence from armed groups, as noted by Dawn and TRT Global.