📍 Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo — The coordinator of the M23 Movement, Bertrand Bisimwa, has strongly criticized the death sentence handed down to former Congolese President Joseph Kabila by the country’s High Military Court.
In a statement circulated on social media, Bisimwa described the verdict as a “violation of the Declaration of Principles”, referring to the Doha peace framework signed earlier this year between Kinshasa and the M23.
“A Political Message, Not Justice”
According to Bisimwa, the ruling against Kabila — accused of ties with the AFC/M23 — is more of a political maneuver than a judicial decision.
“The AFC/M23 has never been wrong about the man in front of us and his political game,” Bisimwa asserted, implying that the trial reflects broader political rivalries rather than impartial justice.
Criticism of Kinshasa’s Military Actions
Beyond denouncing the verdict, Bisimwa accused the government of President Félix Tshisekedi of persisting with military offensives in the eastern provinces. He argued that these actions contradict the peace process initiated in Washington and Doha.
A Divisive Verdict
The death sentence against Joseph Kabila — who ruled the DRC from 2001 to 2019 — has shaken the political landscape. While civil society organizations and victims’ groups welcome what they see as long-overdue accountability, others perceive the decision as destabilizing and politically motivated.
Observers warn that the verdict could fuel renewed instability in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, where the M23 remains active.
🖊 Author: Mangwa
📖 Read more: Mecamediaafrica.com
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