The High Military Court in Kinshasa has delayed delivering its long-awaited verdict in the war crimes trial of former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) president Joseph Kabila, citing the need to examine newly presented evidence. Judges announced on Friday, September 12, 2025, that the decision would be postponed until September 19, extending a trial that has already gripped the nation and drawn significant international attention.
A Last-Minute Turn in the Trial
Kabila, who ruled the DRC from 2001 until stepping down in 2019, is accused of collaborating with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, which has been responsible for years of deadly conflict in eastern Congo. Prosecutors allege that the former president conspired with the group, helping to finance their operations through hidden accounts. If convicted, Kabila faces the death penalty.
The decision to delay the verdict came after state lawyers urged the court to admit fresh evidence. Among the material is new witness testimony that prosecutors claim links Kabila directly to financial networks tied to M23’s operations. The prosecution also requested a reclassification of charges from treason to espionage, citing renewed questions about Kabila’s nationality and suggesting his loyalty to the Congolese state should be called into question.
The judges ruled the new submissions admissible, a move that effectively extended proceedings by an additional week.
Trial in Absentia
Kabila’s trial has been underway since July 2025, following his return to headlines earlier this year. Once a powerful figure on the African continent, he retreated into self-imposed exile in 2023, reportedly living abroad under conditions of relative secrecy. In April, however, he resurfaced in the eastern city of Goma shortly after its capture by M23 rebels—a reappearance that further fueled accusations of collusion. His exact whereabouts remain unknown, and he is currently being tried in absentia.
The charges against him go beyond treason and espionage. He is also facing counts of murder and rape, allegations that deepen the gravity of the case and underscore the stakes of the trial. For many Congolese citizens, the proceedings represent an extraordinary moment in which a former head of state is being forced to reckon with accusations of crimes against humanity and betrayal of the nation.
Political Tensions and Supporters’ Outcry
The trial has divided opinion within Congo and across the broader region. Supporters of Kabila insist the proceedings are a political vendetta designed to eliminate him as a force in Congolese politics. They argue that the government’s decision in May to strip him of presidential immunity was a calculated move aimed at neutralizing his influence once and for all.
His critics, however, see the case as a long-overdue reckoning with a leader whose two-decade rule was marred by allegations of corruption, authoritarianism, and complicity in fueling one of Africa’s most devastating conflicts. For them, the trial could serve as a precedent, signaling that even the highest political office does not shield an individual from accountability.
Broader Implications for Congo and the Region
The outcome of this trial carries significant weight, not only for Congo’s fragile political landscape but also for relations with neighboring Rwanda, whose backing of M23 has long been a source of instability in the region. Observers note that a guilty verdict against Kabila could inflame tensions, potentially destabilizing peace talks and raising the specter of renewed violence in eastern Congo.
International human rights organizations are closely watching the proceedings, with many urging transparency and fairness. Critics worry that the highly charged political environment surrounding the trial may compromise judicial independence. Others argue that the willingness of the court to admit new evidence demonstrates a commitment to due process.
The Road Ahead
As the September 19 verdict date approaches, anticipation is building. For victims of the decades-long conflict in eastern Congo, the trial is a test of whether the justice system can deliver accountability for crimes that have devastated millions of lives. For Kabila’s allies, it is a political witch-hunt aimed at rewriting history.
Regardless of the outcome, the trial of Joseph Kabila has already cemented its place as one of the most consequential legal and political events in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s recent history—an extraordinary moment where the shadow of war, questions of national identity, and the pursuit of justice converge in a single courtroom.
