By Kennedy Nalyanya
KINSHASA – The treason trial of former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) president Joseph Kabila began Friday in a military court in Kinshasa, in a case that has sent political shockwaves across the nation. Kabila, who ruled the country for 18 years, faces a range of serious charges, including murder, rape, and supporting the notorious M23 rebel group, which currently holds territory in the conflict-ridden, mineral-rich east.
Kabila did not appear in court for the opening session and has requested to be tried in absentia. From the start, he has dismissed the proceedings as politically motivated, labeling the trial "arbitrary" and accusing the judiciary of becoming a tool of oppression.
The government, however, is taking the charges seriously. President Félix Tshisekedi—Kabila’s successor and former political ally turned rival—has publicly accused him of masterminding the rebel insurgency. Prosecutors allege Kabila played a key role in founding the Congo River Alliance, a coalition that includes M23 and other militia groups. They are also accusing him of working with Rwanda in an alleged plot to oust Tshisekedi—an allegation both sides deny.
After several hours in court, proceedings were adjourned until the end of the month to allow prosecutors more time to review case documents.
Kabila returned to the DRC in May after two years in self-imposed exile in South Africa. His reappearance in Goma, a city under rebel control, raised eyebrows and fueled speculation about his ties to M23 and other armed factions.
Despite a ceasefire agreement between the government and rebels announced last week, fighting in eastern DRC has continued. The United Nations and several Western governments have accused neighboring Rwanda of backing M23 and deploying troops into Congolese territory—claims Kigali strongly denies, insisting it is only protecting its borders.
The former president, who automatically became a senator for life after leaving office, had previously enjoyed immunity from prosecution. But in a landmark move in May, fellow senators voted to strip him of that protection, clearing the way for legal action. He now faces charges that include torture, rebellion, and forcibly occupying the strategic city of Goma.
Reactions to the trial have been sharply divided. Allies of Kabila say the proceedings are politically charged and designed to sideline him. Ferdinand Kambere, a former official in Kabila’s now-banned PPRD party, accused the government of “double standards”—pursuing peace with rebels while cracking down on the former president.
“This trial is nothing but an attempt to erase Kabila from political life,” said Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a close confidant of the former president. He described the court proceedings as “theatre” with a predetermined outcome.
The government, however, maintains that justice must run its course, regardless of political consequences. Deputy Justice Minister Samuel Mbemba dismissed criticisms of the trial’s legitimacy, saying, “Justice does not negotiate. It does not participate in dialogue. Its calendar is different from the political calendar.”
Kabila, 54, first came to power in 2001 at age 29 after the assassination of his father, Laurent-Désiré Kabila. He handed over the presidency to Tshisekedi following a disputed 2018 election. Since then, relations between the two leaders have deteriorated significantly.
In May, Kabila broke his silence in a now-deleted YouTube video, in which he described the current administration as a “dictatorship” and warned of a “decline of democracy” in the DRC. Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya swiftly rejected those claims, saying Kabila had “nothing to offer the country.”
As the trial resumes later this month, all eyes will be on Kinshasa. The outcome could reshape the political landscape in a country already grappling with conflict, mistrust, and a fragile peace.
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