Kinshasa, DRC (August 2025), The Democratic Republic of Congo is pursuing an unprecedented military prosecution of former President Joseph Kabila, who now faces charges including treason, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and participation in an insurrectionary movement linked to ARC/M23 rebel group.
On 22–23 May, 2025, The was Immunity Lifted and Legal Barriers Removed the Congolese Senate voted overwhelmingly 88 votes to 5 to lift Kabila’s lifetime senator for life immunity, clearing the path for prosecution. Authorities assert they possess “a substantial body of documents, testimony and material facts” connecting him to M23 The move marks the first time a former elected president in DRC has been referred to a High Military Court.
Former Justice Minister Constant Mutamba has formally alleged that Kabila supported M23 insurgents in eastern DRC, where Goma and Bukavu fell under rebel control in early 2025. The government accuses him of offering financial, logistical, and political support that constituted treason and crimes against humanity, including civilian massacres. Under the DRC’s 2024 circular reinstating capital punishment for treason and war crimes, Kabila could face the death penalty if convicted. Additional allegations reportedly include murder, rape, and insurrection involvement tied to his supposed alliance with M23.
The government swiftly suspended Kabila’s political party, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), froze assets belonging to its leadership, and seized dozens of properties and bank accounts over suspected money laundering and terrorism financing. The Common Front for Congo (FCC) platform was also barred from political activity.
Critics of the trial—including opposition figures and legal experts—argue the process violates constitutional protections afforded to former presidents and that lifting immunity may have required combined parliamentary approval, not just a Senate vote. The accused calls the trial a case of political persecution, with his party denouncing it as “judicial instrumentalization” and “pure theatre.”
On May 23–24, Kabila delivered a 45-minute speech via livestream from an undisclosed location, denouncing the prosecution as an abuse of justice by a “dictatorial regime” and accusing state institutions of being “instruments of oppression.” In April 2025, he defied Kinshasa’s warnings by traveling to Goma—the rebel-held epicenter—to meet with religious and community leaders. There, he expressed a desire to act as a peace mediator despite ongoing accusations that he is aligning with M23 and Rwanda to undermine President Tshisekedi’s authority. His supporters argue the visit was motivated by reconciliation efforts, while the government views it as a provocation.
The military trial has begun in the High Military Court in Kinshasa, with hearings launching recently. Prosecutors requested additional time to review evidence, postponing proceedings to later in the month. Kabila has reportedly declined to appear in person, requesting trial in absentia.
If convicted, he could face years of imprisonment—or execution. Meanwhile, his return to the DRC and presence in Goma raises concerns over escalating political tensions, as international efforts intensify to broker a peace deal that includes mineral rights agreements and stabilization initiatives.
This unprecedented prosecution represents a watershed moment in Congolese history, raising pivotal questions about the balance between combating impunity and upholding legal protections for former presidents. It highlights the fraught intersection of security crises, mineral wealth, and political rivalry in a nation struggling with prolonged conflict in its eastern provinces
