A dramatic legal showdown is unfolding in the Democratic Republic of Congo as military prosecutors seek the death penalty for former President Joseph Kabila, who is being tried in absentia on charges of treason and war crimes. Authorities accuse Kabila of backing Rwanda-supported M23 rebels in their violent campaign in eastern DRC, including the occupation of Goma earlier this year. Prosecutors allege he conspired with Rwanda and ex-election chief Corneille Nangaa, who created a coalition of rebel groups, to overthrow President Félix Tshisekedi. Kabila’s party dismisses the case as a political witch-hunt. Although in exile since 2023, Kabila remains a powerful figure in the Central African country, casting a long shadow over Congolese politics amid renewed conflict in the east.
Le Monde