DRC prosecutor seeks death penalty for former leader Joseph Kabila
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| Updated On: 23-Aug-2025 @ 12:17 pmSHARE
A military prosecutor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has called for the death penalty against former President Joseph Kabila, who is facing trial in absentia on multiple grave charges. General Lucien Rene Likulia, the country’s military auditor general, presented his case in court on Friday, urging judges to condemn Kabila for treason, homicide, torture, insurrection, and other war crimes. According to Likulia, these acts were committed with the intention of destabilizing the country and attempting to overthrow current President Felix Tshisekedi. The charges also accuse Kabila of having ties to the M23 rebel group, which has been engaged in armed conflict in eastern DRC. One of the most prominent allegations listed in the charge sheet, seen by the AFP news agency, is the forcible occupation of Goma, a major city in eastern Congo. The city was captured by M23 fighters in January of this year before a ceasefire agreement was reached with the government in July. The occupation is being considered by the prosecution as evidence of Kabila’s alleged collaboration with the rebel movement, which has long been accused of committing atrocities including mass killings, forced displacement, and other abuses against civilians. Kabila, who led the DRC from 2001 until 2019, has strongly rejected the allegations. He has publicly denounced the trial, describing the courts as “an instrument of oppression” being manipulated for political purposes. His political party has echoed this stance, framing the case as an attack on opposition forces in the country. Ferdinand Kambere, the party’s secretary, told Reuters that the charges amount to “an act of relentlessness and persecution against a member of the opposition.” This reflects a broader narrative by Kabila’s supporters that the legal proceedings are politically motivated and designed to weaken his influence. The trial is unfolding against the backdrop of the DRC’s recent legal reforms regarding capital punishment. The government lifted a long-standing moratorium on the death penalty last year, theoretically allowing executions to resume. However, no judicial executions have yet taken place since the moratorium was ended, creating uncertainty about whether a death sentence, if delivered, would actually be carried out. The death penalty remains a contentious issue in the DRC, with human rights groups consistently warning against its use, especially in politically charged cases. The situation is further complicated by the history of the M23 group, which has posed one of the most persistent security threats to the DRC. The group’s occupation of Goma earlier this year was a major escalation, underscoring the Congolese government’s struggle to assert control in conflict-prone eastern provinces. The inclusion of this incident in the charge sheet directly ties Kabila to one of the most destabilizing recent episodes in the country, amplifying the seriousness of the case against him. Overall, the prosecution’s demand for Kabila’s death penalty represents one of the most dramatic legal and political developments in Congo since he stepped down from office in 2019. While the court proceedings continue, the trial highlights deep political divisions in the country, the fragile state of its justice system, and the ongoing violence linked to rebel groups such as M23. The outcome of this trial, and whether the death penalty will actually be enforced, will have significant implications for both Congo’s politics and its human rights reputation.