Kabila Denounces Treason Trial as Politically Motivated
Former Congolese president Joseph Kabila has rejected the treason charges brought against him, calling the ongoing trial a political attempt to silence the opposition. A military prosecutor last week requested the death penalty, alongside additional sentences of 20 years and 15 years for related accusations.
Kabila’s response to charges
“This trial has nothing to do with justice,” Kabila said in a statement. He accused President Félix Tshisekedi of corruption linked to Katanga’s mining sector and blamed his successor for governance failures. The former leader argued that true reconciliation cannot come from selective trials, but only through inclusive dialogue.
Background to the case
Kabila returned from a two-year exile in April, months after M23 rebels seized Goma. The Congolese Senate later revoked his parliamentary immunity, clearing the way for prosecution. Since late July, he has been tried in absentia by the High Military Court on charges of treason, war crimes, rape and murder.
Authorities accuse Kabila of backing the Rwanda-linked M23 rebellion and plotting to overthrow the government. He described the allegations as false and politically motivated, insisting no credible evidence has been presented.
Regional diplomacy and tensions
Meanwhile, President Tshisekedi declined an invitation from former South African president Thabo Mbeki to attend an informal dialogue on Congo’s political future. The meeting, organised in South Africa, was meant to encourage reconciliation, but Kinshasa dismissed it as untimely.
For more updates on Congo’s politics, visit the Cameroon Concord Africa section.