Former Congolese President Kabila Sentenced To Death

Former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila has been sentenced to decease successful absentia for warfare crimes and treason.

The charges interest accusations that Kabila has been supporting the M23, a rebel radical who person wreaked devastation crossed the country’s eastbound region.

Kabila was convicted connected Friday by a subject tribunal of treason, crimes against humanity, and warfare crimes, including murder, intersexual assault, torture and insurrection. He denied the charges, but did not look successful tribunal to support himself.

The ex-president rejected the lawsuit arsenic “arbitrary” and said the courts were being utilized arsenic an “instrument of oppression”. His existent whereabouts are unknown.

The tribunal besides ordered him to wage a good of $33bn (£25bn).

One of his allies and a erstwhile minister, Kikaya Bin Karubi, told the BBC’s Newsday programme that the full proceedings had been “theatrical” and was an illustration of President Félix Tshisekedi’s dictatorship. He said the tribunal had not seen grounds linking Kabila to the M23 rebel group.

M23 person Bertrand Bisimwa said connected X that the condemnation violated the bid talks with the government.

Kabila, 54, led DR Congo for 18 years aft succeeding his father, Laurent, who was changeable dormant successful 2001.

Kabila backed Tshisekedi successful the disputed 2019 elections, but they aboriginal fell retired and Kabila went into self-imposed exile successful 2023.

In April this year, the erstwhile president said helium wanted to assistance find a solution to the deadly warring successful the eastbound and arrived successful the M23-held metropolis of Goma the pursuing month.

President Tshisekedi accused Kabila of being the brains down the M23, and senators stripped him of his ineligible immunity, paving the mode for his prosecution.

Decades of struggle had escalated earlier this twelvemonth erstwhile the M23 seized power of ample parts of the mineral-rich east, including Goma, the metropolis of Bukavu and 2 airports.

Pointing to overwhelming evidence, the UN and respective Western countries person accused neighbouring Rwanda of backing the M23 and sending thousands of its soldiers into DR Congo.

But Kigali denies the charges, saying it is acting to halt the struggle from spilling onto its territory.

A ceasefire woody betwixt the rebels and the authorities was agreed successful July, but the bloodshed has continued.