Latest news with #Kabila
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Joseph Kabila on Trial for Treason
Rabat – A military court put former President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila, on trial for treason on Friday. The DRC leader also faces other charges, including murder, rape, and torture. This is all linked to his support of the M23 rebel group. Kabila became President at the age of 18 in 2001 when his father was shot during the Second Congo Civil War, during a particularly difficult period for the country. Kabila, who has been in the country in May to visit the M23 leaders in Goma, asked to be tried in absentia rather than attend in person. He has called the court 'arbitrary' and claimed that the trial is being used as an 'instrument of oppression and suppression.' A ceasefire agreement was reached between the rebels, and the deal was announced just over a week ago. Kabila, who has been criticised by the current President, and his successor, Felix Tshisekedi, has been accused of orchestrating organized violence. There have also been accusations from Tshisekedi and his government that Kabila was trying to orchestrate a coup d'état against the government. Several other organisations, such as the UN, have accused the Rwandan government and President Paul Kagame of supporting the M23 Rebels both financially and diplomatically to cause violence in the DRC. According to the DRC constitution, former senators have immunity from prosecution on all charges, including torture, but Kabila had his protection withdrawn from the senate. Kabila has lashed out at the Congolese government, calling it a 'dictatorship' and saying there was a 'decline in democracy within the country.' Spokesman for the Congolese government, Patrick Muyaya, rejected Kabila's allegations, saying that he was lying to the country. This trial has the potential to send Kabila to prison for a long period of time and keep him out of politics. The result of this trial could also result in a death sentence. The trial was suspended for discussion and will resume on July 31 for the announcement of the decision.
eNCA
5 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
DR Congo tries ex-leader Kabila for treason in absentia
DR CONGO - Former Democratic Republic of Congo leader Joseph Kabila went on trial in absentia Friday on charges including treason over alleged support for Rwanda-backed militants, an AFP reporter at the court said. Kabila, who has lived outside the DRC for two years, stands accused at a military court of plotting to overthrow the government of President Felix Tshisekedi - a charge that could yield a death sentence. He also faces charges including homicide, torture and rape linked to the anti-government force M23, the charge sheet said. Other charges include "taking part in an insurrection movement", "crime against the peace and safety of humanity" and "forcible occupation of the city of Goma". Kabila arrived in May in that eastern city, seized by the M23 in January before the militia and the government in July signed a pledge to seek a permanent ceasefire. Kabila's successor as president, Tshisekedi, has branded him the brains behind the armed group, which has seized swathes of the resource-rich Congolese east with Rwanda's help. The court opened his trial at 1020 GMT in the Gombe district of the capital Kinshasa. Emmanuel Shadari, secretary-general of Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), dismissed it as a "political trial" that he said would "divide the Congolese people" during peace negotiations. The proceeding "is anything but a fair trial. With a justice system that is not independent, the conviction is already decided - the rest is theatre, a ridiculous staging," Shadari said. Deputy Justice Minister Samuel Mbemba told reporters at the hearing: "The courts do not negotiate, they will do their work independently." - M23 denies Kabila ties - The charge sheet seen by AFP described Kabila as "one of the initiators of the Congo River Alliance" (AFC), the M23's political arm. It accuses him of colluding with Rwanda to try to "overthrow by force the power established by law". The charge sheet accused him of being responsible for atrocities committed by the movement in the North and South Kivu provinces in the mineral-rich east. Rwanda denies providing military backing to the M23, but UN experts say its army played a "critical" role in the group's offensive in that region. The AFC and M23's executive secretary Benjamin Mbonimpa distanced the movement from Kabila at a news conference in Goma on Friday. He told a news conference that the government should not "label him an AFC/M23 member" just because he had come to the city. Kabila "as a Congolese citizen is free to go wherever he likes", he said, branding the trial part of a "malevolent strategy" against the ex-president. - Kabila says trial 'arbitrary' - Kabila, 54, took power following his father Laurent Kabila's assassination in 2001 and governed the DRC until 2019, before leaving the country in 2023. He has branded his successor's government a "dictatorship". Kabila has rejected the case as "arbitrary" and called the courts "an instrument of oppression". The upper house of the legislature lifted his immunity as senator for life to allow his prosecution. The court on Friday heard from military prosecutor Rene-Lucien Likulia, who asked it to judge Kabila in his absence. It scheduled the next hearing for July 31. For more than three decades, the eastern DRC has been ravaged by conflict between various armed groups. The unrest has intensified since the M23's resurgence in 2021.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former DR Congo president on trial for treason
The treason trial of the former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, has begun in a military court in the capital, Kinshasa. He also faces other charges, such as murder, linked to his alleged support for M23 rebels - who control a large part of the mineral-rich east of the country. He denies the charges and has snubbed the hearing. Kabila's successor, President Félix Tshisekedi, has accused him of being the brains behind the rebels. The former president has rejected the case as "arbitrary" and said the courts were being used as an "instrument of oppression". A ceasefire deal between the rebels and the government was agreed last week, but fighting has continued. Kabila had been living outside the country for two years, but arrived in the rebel-held city of Goma, in eastern DR Congo, from self-imposed exile in South Africa in May. Pointing to overwhelming evidence, the UN and several Western countries have 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 stop the conflict from spilling over onto its territory. In May, the upper house of the legislature lifted Mr Kabila's immunity as senator for life to allow his prosecution on charges that include treason, murder, taking part in an insurrectionist movement, and the forcible occupation of Goma. The 53-year-old led DR Congo for 18 years, after succeeding his father Laurent, who was shot dead in 2001. Joseph Kabila was just 29 at the time. He handed power to President Félix Tshisekedi following a disputed election in 2019, but they later fell out. In a now-deleted YouTube video released in May, Kabila lashed out at the Congolese government calling it a "dictatorship", and said there was a "decline of democracy" in the country. At the time the Congolese government spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya, rejected Kabila's allegations, saying he had "nothing to offer the country". Ahead of Friday's trial, Ferdinand Kambere - a close ally of Kabila who served in his now-banned PPRD party, accused the government of "double standards". He said it was too soft in its peace deal but too hard on Kabila, adding that the trial was a way to exclude Kabila from the country's politics. Additional reporting by Damian Zane and Cecilia Macaulay More BBC stories on DR Congo: WATCH: BBC goes inside rebel-held city of Goma Hope for peace as DR Congo and M23 rebels sign deal in Qatar Wafcon return provides 'hope' in war-ravaged East What's the fighting all about? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Focus on Africa This Is Africa
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Joseph Kabila: Former DR Congo president on trial for treason and murder in Kinshasa
The treason trial of the former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, has begun in a military court in the capital, Kinshasa. He also faces other charges, such as murder, linked to his alleged support for M23 rebels - who control a large part of the mineral-rich east of the country. He denies the charges and has snubbed the hearing. Kabila's successor, President Félix Tshisekedi, has accused him of being the brains behind the former president has rejected the case as "arbitrary" and said the courts were being used as an "instrument of oppression". A ceasefire deal between the rebels and the government was agreed last week, but fighting has continued. Kabila had been living outside the country for two years, but arrived in the rebel-held city of Goma, in eastern DR Congo, from self-imposed exile in South Africa in May. Pointing to overwhelming evidence, the UN and several Western countries have 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 stop the conflict from spilling over onto its May, the upper house of the legislature lifted Mr Kabila's immunity as senator for life to allow his prosecution on charges that include treason, murder, taking part in an insurrectionist movement, and the forcible occupation of 53-year-old led DR Congo for 18 years, after succeeding his father Laurent, who was shot dead in 2001. Joseph Kabila was just 29 at the handed power to President Félix Tshisekedi following a disputed election in 2019, but they later fell a now-deleted YouTube video released in May, Kabila lashed out at the Congolese government calling it a "dictatorship", and said there was a "decline of democracy" in the the time the Congolese government spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya, rejected Kabila's allegations, saying he had "nothing to offer the country".Ahead of Friday's trial, Ferdinand Kambere - a close ally of Kabila who served in his now-banned PPRD party, accused the government of "double standards". He said it was too soft in its peace deal but too hard on Kabila, adding that the trial was a way to exclude Kabila from the country's reporting by Damian Zane and Cecilia Macaulay More BBC stories on DR Congo: WATCH: BBC goes inside rebel-held city of GomaHope for peace as DR Congo and M23 rebels sign deal in QatarWafcon return provides 'hope' in war-ravaged EastWhat's the fighting all about? Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Eyewitness News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Trial of DR Congo ex-leader Kabila to begin Friday: court
KINSHASA - The trial of Democratic Republic of Congo's former leader Joseph Kabila on charges including treason will open on Friday in Kinshasa, according to a court document seen by AFP on Thursday. A military court will hear the trial of Kabila on charges including homicide, treason and torture linked to his alleged support for the M23 anti-government militia, the charge sheet said. Other charges include "taking part in an insurrection movement", "crime against the peace and safety of humanity" and "forcible occupation of the city of Goma". Kabila arrived in May in Goma, seized by the M23 in January before it and the government in July signed a pledge to seek a permanent ceasefire. His successor as president, Felix Tshisekedi, accuses Kabila of being the brains behind the armed group, which has seized swathes of the resource-rich Congolese east with Rwanda's help. Kabila, 54, took power following his father Laurent Kabila's assassination in 2001 and governed DRC until 2019, before leaving the country in 2023. He has branded his successor's government a "dictatorship" and has been accused by a witness in the case of seeking to remove Tshisekedi from office. Kabila has rejected the case as "arbitrary" and branded the courts "an instrument of oppression". The upper house of the legislature lifted his immunity as senator for life to allow his prosecution. For more than three decades, eastern DRC has been ravaged by conflict between various armed groups. The unrest has intensified since the M23's resurgence in 2021.
