📰 DRC: Death Sentence for Joseph Kabila – HRW Warns of a Dangerous Precedent for Democracy
The former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, was sentenced to death on Monday, September 30, 2025, by the country’s High Military Court in a trial held in absentia. Officially, he was charged with treason and war crimes, but the procedure has sparked a wave of outrage both nationally and internationally.
⚖️ A “Mockery of Justice”?
The trial was conducted without any defense lawyer, a grave violation of the right to a fair trial.
In a statement released on October 1, 2025, Human Rights Watch (HRW) denounced the trial as a “sham of justice”, reminding the world that military courts should not judge civilians.
“Denying a former president a fair trial sends a chilling message: if Kabila can be condemned this way, no political opponent is safe,” HRW warned.
🔎 A Politically Charged Trial
Nearly 20 years after coming to power and seven years after leaving office, Kabila remains an influential figure in Congolese politics.
For his supporters, the death sentence is nothing less than political revenge, aimed at weakening a rival still seen as a threat.
The timing also raises questions: the verdict comes as current President Félix Tshisekedi faces a major security crisis in the east of the country, particularly with the M23 rebellion.
🏛 Fragile Institutions and a Threatened Democracy
Beyond the case of Kabila, the affair highlights the fragility of the Congolese judicial system.
According to HRW, the use of courts for political purposes directly undermines the rule of law and the already shaky democratic process in the DRC.
“The death penalty against Joseph Kabila underscores the urgent need to build independent and credible judicial institutions,” the NGO concluded.
❓ Turning Point or Political Revenge?
In a country marked by decades of conflicts and impunity, the Kabila trial could either become a historic turning point for justice… or just another episode in the long series of political score-settling in the DRC.
✍️ Author: Mangwa
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