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| Joseph Kabila: Former DR Congo president on trial for treason and murder in Kinshasa | Joseph Kabila: Former DR Congo president on trial for treason and murder in Kinshasa |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Joseph Kabila is accused by the current president of masterminding the M23 rebels | Joseph Kabila is accused by the current president of masterminding the M23 rebels |
| The treason trial of the former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, has begun in a military court in the capital, Kinshasa. | The treason trial of the former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, has begun in a military court in the capital, Kinshasa. |
| He also faces other charges, such as murder, linked to his alleged support for M23 rebels - who control a large part of the mineral-rich east of the country. He denies the charges and did not appear at the hearing. | |
| Kabila's successor, President Félix Tshisekedi, has accused him of being the brains behind the rebels. | Kabila's successor, President Félix Tshisekedi, has accused him of being the brains behind the rebels. |
| The former president has rejected the case as "arbitrary" and said the courts were being used as an "instrument of oppression". | The former president has rejected the case as "arbitrary" and said the courts were being used as an "instrument of oppression". |
| A ceasefire deal between the rebels and the government was agreed last week, but fighting has continued. | A ceasefire deal between the rebels and the government was agreed last week, but fighting has continued. |
| Kabila had been living outside the country for two years, but arrived in the rebel-held city of Goma, in eastern DR Congo, from self-imposed exile in South Africa in May. | Kabila had been living outside the country for two years, but arrived in the rebel-held city of Goma, in eastern DR Congo, from self-imposed exile in South Africa in May. |
| Pointing to overwhelming evidence, the UN and several Western countries have accused neighbouring Rwanda of backing the M23, and sending thousands of its soldiers into DR Congo. But Kigali denies the charges, saying it is acting to stop the conflict from spilling over onto its territory. | Pointing to overwhelming evidence, the UN and several Western countries have accused neighbouring Rwanda of backing the M23, and sending thousands of its soldiers into DR Congo. But Kigali denies the charges, saying it is acting to stop the conflict from spilling over onto its territory. |
| In May, the upper house of the legislature lifted Mr Kabila's immunity as senator for life to allow his prosecution on charges that include treason, murder, taking part in an insurrectionist movement, and the forcible occupation of Goma. | In May, the upper house of the legislature lifted Mr Kabila's immunity as senator for life to allow his prosecution on charges that include treason, murder, taking part in an insurrectionist movement, and the forcible occupation of Goma. |
| The 53-year-old led DR Congo for 18 years, after succeeding his father Laurent, who was shot dead in 2001. Joseph Kabila was just 29 at the time. | The 53-year-old led DR Congo for 18 years, after succeeding his father Laurent, who was shot dead in 2001. Joseph Kabila was just 29 at the time. |
| He handed power to President Félix Tshisekedi following a disputed election in 2019, but they later fell out. | He handed power to President Félix Tshisekedi following a disputed election in 2019, but they later fell out. |
| In a now-deleted YouTube video released in May, Kabila lashed out at the Congolese government calling it a "dictatorship", and said there was a "decline of democracy" in the country. | In a now-deleted YouTube video released in May, Kabila lashed out at the Congolese government calling it a "dictatorship", and said there was a "decline of democracy" in the country. |
| At the time the Congolese government spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya, rejected Kabila's allegations, saying he had "nothing to offer the country". | At the time the Congolese government spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya, rejected Kabila's allegations, saying he had "nothing to offer the country". |
| Ahead of Friday's trial, Ferdinand Kambere - a close ally of Kabila who served in his now-banned PPRD party, accused the government of "double standards". He said it was too soft in its peace deal but too hard on Kabila, adding that the trial was a way to exclude Kabila from the country's politics. | Ahead of Friday's trial, Ferdinand Kambere - a close ally of Kabila who served in his now-banned PPRD party, accused the government of "double standards". He said it was too soft in its peace deal but too hard on Kabila, adding that the trial was a way to exclude Kabila from the country's politics. |
| Additional reporting by Damian Zane and Cecilia Macaulay | Additional reporting by Damian Zane and Cecilia Macaulay |
| More BBC stories on DR Congo: | More BBC stories on DR Congo: |
| WATCH: BBC goes inside rebel-held city of Goma | WATCH: BBC goes inside rebel-held city of Goma |
| Hope for peace as DR Congo and M23 rebels sign deal in Qatar | Hope for peace as DR Congo and M23 rebels sign deal in Qatar |
| Wafcon return provides 'hope' in war-ravaged East | Wafcon return provides 'hope' in war-ravaged East |
| What's the fighting all about? | What's the fighting all about? |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |