DR Congo prosecutor seeks death penalty for ex-President Joseph Kabila

The charges also relate to alleged crimes against humanity, including massacres of civilians in eastern Congo.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s military prosecutor has demanded the death penalty for former President Joseph Kabila, who is being tried in absentia for war crimes, including homicide, rape, deportation, and torture.
The charges also relate to alleged crimes against humanity, including massacres of civilians in eastern Congo.
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According to a Reuters report, the military auditor general, General Likulia Lucien Rene, formally told a military court on Friday that he is seeking the death penalty for Kabila for multiple crimes, including homicide, rape, deportation, and torture.
Kabila spent almost two decades in power before stepping down in 2018. He has been abroad since late 2023, mostly in South Africa. He was last seen in public in rebel-held territory in Congo's volatile east.
In April 2025, Kabila announced plans to return to Congo to help advance peace efforts in the war-torn eastern region. The government quickly responded by banning his political party and seizing his assets, intensifying the legal and political pressure surrounding his return.
He is wanted in Congo for alleged crimes against humanity, including a role in the massacre of civilians.
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