Summary
Former Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) President Joseph Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes and treason. He was accused of supporting the M23 rebel group and was convicted by a military court. Kabila did not attend the trial and has denied the charges.
Key Facts
- Joseph Kabila, former president of DR Congo, was sentenced to death in absentia.
- He was convicted of war crimes and treason by a military court.
- Charges include supporting the M23 rebel group, murder, sexual assault, torture, and insurrection.
- Kabila denied the charges and did not appear in court.
- He led DR Congo for 18 years and left office in 2019.
- Kabila went into self-imposed exile in 2023 and returned to DR Congo to seek solutions to regional conflict.
- The M23 rebel group has caused instability in eastern DR Congo.
- The UN and some Western countries have accused Rwanda of supporting the M23, which Rwanda denies.
