Congo’s public prosecutor has demanded the death penalty for former President Joseph Kabila, who faces treason and war crimes charges. Kabila, who ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2001 until 2019, is being tried in absentia on accusations of murder and rape.
He assumed power at 29 after the assassination of his father, Laurent Kabila, but later extended his mandate by delaying elections beyond 2017. Prosecutors allege Kabila supported Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, whose recent offensives captured major cities in eastern Congo, intensifying instability across the region.
Kabila returned briefly from exile in April, appearing in Goma after the city’s dramatic fall to rebels, but his current whereabouts remain uncertain. On Friday, Gen. Lucien René Likulia requested not only the death penalty but also lengthy prison terms for alleged conspiracy and complicity.
The general cited “apologetic behavior for war crimes,” though the court offered no clarity on the specific charges underlying these demands. Analysts warn the trial reflects political rivalries rather than impartial justice, especially after Kabila’s presidential immunity was revoked earlier this year.
Supporters insist the proceedings are orchestrated by President Felix Tshisekedi, who last year accused Kabila of plotting insurrection with rebel groups. Ferdinand Kambere, a close ally and former minister, condemned the case as “a disgrace for the Republic” and politically motivated retribution.
Independent researcher Henry-Pacifique Mayala described the prosecution’s demands as “a settling of scores session rather than a genuine quest for truth.” The court has yet to announce a date for sentencing, leaving Kabila’s fate suspended between accusations of tyranny and claims of persecution.
