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| Joseph Kabila: Former Congolese president sentenced to death for war crimes | Joseph Kabila: Former Congolese president sentenced to death for war crimes |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Joseph Kabila returned to DR Congo in May after a period of self-imposed exile | Joseph Kabila returned to DR Congo in May after a period of self-imposed exile |
| Former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila has been sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes and treason. | Former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila has been sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes and treason. |
| The charges concern accusations that Kabila has been supporting the M23, a rebel group who have wreaked devastation across the country's eastern region. | The charges concern accusations that Kabila has been supporting the M23, a rebel group who have wreaked devastation across the country's eastern region. |
| Kabila was convicted on Friday by a military court of treason, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, including murder, sexual assault, torture and insurrection. He denied the charges, but did not appear in court to defend himself. | |
| The ex-president rejected the case as "arbitrary" and said the courts were being used as an "instrument of oppression". His current whereabouts are unknown. | |
| The 54-year-old led DR Congo for 18 years, after succeeding his father Laurent, who was shot dead in 2001. | The 54-year-old led DR Congo for 18 years, after succeeding his father Laurent, who was shot dead in 2001. |
| Kabila handed power to President Félix Tshisekedi in 2019, but they later fell out and Kabila went into self-imposed exile in 2023. | Kabila handed power to President Félix Tshisekedi in 2019, but they later fell out and Kabila went into self-imposed exile in 2023. |
| In April this year, the former president said he wanted to help find a solution to the deadly fighting in the east and arrived in the M23-held city of Goma the following month. | In April this year, the former president said he wanted to help find a solution to the deadly fighting in the east and arrived in the M23-held city of Goma the following month. |
| President Tshisekedi accused Kabila of being the brains behind the M23 and senators stripped him of his legal immunity, paving the way for his prosecution. | President Tshisekedi accused Kabila of being the brains behind the M23 and senators stripped him of his legal immunity, paving the way for his prosecution. |
| Decades of conflict had escalated earlier this year when the M23 seized control of large parts of the mineral-rich east, including Goma, the city of Bukavu and two airports. | Decades of conflict had escalated earlier this year when the M23 seized control of large parts of the mineral-rich east, including Goma, the city of Bukavu and two airports. |
| 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. | 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. | But Kigali denies the charges, saying it is acting to stop the conflict from spilling over onto its territory. |
| A ceasefire deal between the rebels and the government was agreed in July, but the bloodshed has continued. | A ceasefire deal between the rebels and the government was agreed in July, but the bloodshed has continued. |
| More BBC stories on DR Congo: | More BBC stories on DR Congo: |
| Joseph Kabila and DR Congo's missing millions | Joseph Kabila and DR Congo's missing millions |
| Your phone, a rare metal and the war in DR Congo | Your phone, a rare metal and the war in DR Congo |
| DR Congo conflict tests China's diplomatic balancing act | DR Congo conflict tests China's diplomatic balancing act |
| 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 |