DR Congo prosecutor seeks death penalty for ex-President Kabila
According to the court filing, Kabila is accused of bearing responsibility for atrocities committed during his time in power, including widespread violence targeting civilians.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s military prosecutor has asked a court to impose the death penalty on former President Joseph Kabila, who is facing trial in absentia over war crimes and crimes against humanity.
General Likulia Lucien Rene, the military auditor general, told a military court on Friday that he is seeking the maximum penalty against Kabila, citing charges that include homicide, rape, deportation, torture, and massacres of civilians in eastern Congo.
According to the court filing, Kabila is accused of bearing responsibility for atrocities committed during his time in power, including widespread violence targeting civilians.
Kabila, who led Congo for nearly two decades before stepping down in 2018, has lived abroad since late 2023, mainly in South Africa.
He was last seen publicly in areas under rebel control in the country’s troubled eastern region.
Earlier this year, in April 2025, he announced plans to return home to contribute to peace efforts in eastern Congo.
That announcement was followed by swift government action, including a ban on his political party and the seizure of his assets, measures that deepened the pressure around his possible return.
Authorities maintain that he is wanted for crimes against humanity linked to civilian massacres and other abuses. His trial continues in absentia as the prosecution presses for the death penalty.
