Congo Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty for Ex-President Kabila

The Attorney General of Congo has demanded the death penalty for the country's former president, Joseph Kabila, who is being tried in absentia on charges of treason and war crimes. The court case is related to his ties to the "M23" rebel group.

Joseph Kabila, who ruled the country from 2001 to 2019, has been on trial since July of this year. He has been charged with war crimes, murders, and rapes. Kabila came to power at the age of 29 after the assassination of his father, former President Laurent Kabila, and extended his term by another two years by postponing the 2017 elections.

During the trial, the prosecutor, General Lucien René Likulia, in addition to the death penalty, also demanded a 20-year prison sentence for committing war crimes and 15 years for conspiracy, although no details were provided regarding these charges.

Kabila, who has been in self-imposed exile since 2023, returned to the rebel-held city of Goma in April of this year. His current whereabouts are unknown. The former president's immunity was lifted in May 2025.

Congo's current president, Félix Tshisekedi, last year accused Kabila of supporting the rebels and "preparing a rebellion" with them, which Kabila denies.

Kabila's supporters claim that the trial is politically motivated. The head of his party and former minister, Ferdinand Kambere, stated that stripping Kabila of his immunity as a senator for life is part of the campaign launched against him. "What we saw was a real disgrace for the republic," he said.

The date for the announcement of the former president's verdict has not yet been set