The treason trial of Joseph Kabila, the former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, commenced in a military court in Kinshasa. Kabila is facing a series of serious charges, including murder, related to his alleged backing of the M23 rebels, who reportedly control extensive areas in the mineral-rich eastern part of the country. While Kabila has denied these accusations, he notably chose to skip the hearing. Current President Félix Tshisekedi has accused Kabila of orchestrating support for the rebels.
Kabila has dismissed the trial as "arbitrary" and claims it serves as a means of oppression. A ceasefire was recently brokered between the rebels and the government; however, violence has persisted. After two years of self-imposed exile, Kabila returned to Goma, a city currently under rebel control, earlier this year. Numerous organizations, including the UN and various Western nations, have claimed that Rwanda is behind the M23’s activities, alleging that they've sent military personnel into DR Congo. Rwanda refutes these claims, insisting its actions aim to prevent spillover violence.
In May, the Congolese legislature removed Kabila's immunity as a senator for life to facilitate his prosecution on charges that include treason and fomenting insurrection, particularly regarding Goma’s occupation. Kabila, who led the nation for 18 years after succeeding his assassinated father, transferred power to Tshisekedi after a controversial election in 2019. Tensions between the two escalated afterward.
In a now-removed YouTube video from May, Kabila labeled the current government a "dictatorship," asserting democracy is in decline in DR Congo. The government's spokesperson countered Kabila's accusations, asserting that he had little to provide the nation. Ahead of the trial, Ferdinand Kambere, a former confidant of Kabila from his defunct political party, criticized the government's approach as inconsistent, arguing the trial was aimed at sidelining Kabila from future political engagements.
