Rabat – A military court put former President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila, on trial for treason on Friday.
The DRC leader also faces other charges, including murder, rape, and torture. This is all linked to his support of the M23 rebel group.
Kabila became President at the age of 18 in 2001 when his father was shot during the Second Congo Civil War, during a particularly difficult period for the country.
Kabila, who has been in the country in May to visit the M23 leaders in Goma, asked to be tried in absentia rather than attend in person.
He has called the court “arbitrary” and claimed that the trial is being used as an “instrument of oppression and suppression.”
A ceasefire agreement was reached between the rebels, and the deal was announced just over a week ago.
Kabila, who has been criticised by the current President, and his successor, Felix Tshisekedi, has been accused of orchestrating organized violence.
There have also been accusations from Tshisekedi and his government that Kabila was trying to orchestrate a coup d’état against the government.
Several other organisations, such as the UN, have accused the Rwandan government and President Paul Kagame of supporting the M23 Rebels both financially and diplomatically to cause violence in the DRC.
According to the DRC constitution, former senators have immunity from prosecution on all charges, including torture, but Kabila had his protection withdrawn from the senate.
Kabila has lashed out at the Congolese government, calling it a “dictatorship” and saying there was a “decline in democracy within the country.”
Spokesman for the Congolese government, Patrick Muyaya, rejected Kabila’s allegations, saying that he was lying to the country.
This trial has the potential to send Kabila to prison for a long period of time and keep him out of politics. The result of this trial could also result in a death sentence.
The trial was suspended for discussion and will resume on July 31 for the announcement of the decision.
