KINSHASA, DR CONGO – The treason trial of former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila has commenced in a military court in the capital, Kinshasa. Mr. Kabila faces multiple charges, including murder and rape, linked to his alleged support for the M23 rebels, who control a significant portion of the mineral-rich eastern part of the country. He denies all charges and has requested to be tried in absentia.
President Félix Tshisekedi, Mr. Kabila’s successor, has publicly accused the former president of being the mastermind behind the M23 insurgency. Mr. Kabila, in turn, has dismissed the legal proceedings as “arbitrary,” asserting that the courts are being used as an “instrument of oppression.” Following several hours of proceedings on Friday, the trial was adjourned until the end of the month to allow prosecutors additional time to review documents. This comes despite a ceasefire deal agreed last week between the rebels and the government, as fighting continues in the east.
Mr. Kabila had been living outside the country for two years but returned in May from self-imposed exile in South Africa, arriving in the rebel-held city of Goma in eastern DR Congo. The United Nations and several Western countries have accused neighbouring Rwanda of backing the M23 and deploying thousands of its soldiers into DR Congo, citing overwhelming evidence. Kigali, however, denies these allegations, stating its actions are aimed at preventing the conflict from spilling over its borders.
Former presidents in DR Congo traditionally serve as senators for life and enjoy lifetime immunity from prosecution. However, in May, Mr. Kabila’s fellow senators voted to strip him of this immunity, paving the way for his prosecution on charges that also include torture, participation in an insurrectionist movement, and the forcible occupation of Goma. According to the AFP news agency, the charge sheet identifies Mr. Kabila as “one of the initiators of the Congo River Alliance,” a broader rebel grouping that includes the M23 and other militias. He is also accused of conspiring with Rwanda to remove President Tshisekedi from power, an accusation both parties deny.
Joseph Kabila, 54, governed DR Congo for 18 years, having assumed power in 2001 at the age of 29 after his father, Laurent Kabila, was assassinated. He handed power to President Félix Tshisekedi following a disputed election in 2019, but their relationship has since deteriorated.
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