Former Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila is facing trial in a military court in Kinshasa, marking a historic legal moment in the country.

The former head of state, who ruled for 18 years, is charged with treason, murder, rape and other crimes related to his alleged support for the M23 rebels, who currently control large parts of eastern DRC. Kabila denies all accusations and did not appear in court, instead asking to be tried in absentia.

The court session held on Friday was adjourned until the end of the month after prosecutors requested additional time to review case documents.

Kabila has dismissed the proceedings as "arbitrary" and said the judiciary is being used as an "instrument of oppression".

His trial comes amid ongoing violence in the east despite a ceasefire deal signed between the government and the rebels last week.

President Félix Tshisekedi, who succeeded Kabila in 2019, has accused his predecessor of being the mastermind behind the M23 insurgency.

According to the AFP news agency, the charge sheet describes Kabila as "one of the initiators of the Congo River Alliance", a broader coalition of rebel groups including M23 and other militias.

The former president, who recently returned to Goma from two years of self-imposed exile in South Africa, has been accused of colluding with Rwanda in an alleged plot to overthrow President Tshisekedi. Both parties deny the claims.

Kabila’s immunity as a senator for life was lifted by fellow senators in May, paving the way for his prosecution. He is now being charged with taking part in an insurrectionist movement, torture, and forcibly occupying Goma.

International focus remains on Rwanda, with the UN and several Western nations accusing it of supporting M23 and deploying thousands of troops in eastern Congo.

Rwanda has denied these accusations, saying it is only acting to prevent the conflict from spilling into its borders.

Kabila’s trial has stirred political tensions in the country.

In response to the proceedings, Ferdinand Kambere, a longtime ally and former official in Kabila’s now-banned PPRD party, accused the government of "double standards", saying it was too lenient in peace negotiations but too harsh in its treatment of Kabila. He claimed the trial was an attempt to block Kabila from returning to national politics.

Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, another key Kabila supporter, reportedly dismissed the case as "theatre" and said a guilty verdict was already predetermined.

But Deputy Justice Minister Samuel Mbemba strongly defended the court’s role, stating, "Justice does not negotiate, it does not join in dialogue. The calendar for justice is different from the political calendar."