DRC : Catholic bishops oppose the death penalty imposed on Joseph Kabila

SOS Médias Burundi

Goma, October 7, 2025 – The death sentence imposed on former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila, by the High Military Court in Kinshasa continues to spark strong reactions in the country.

Following the stance taken by the civil society in North and South Kivu last week, it is now the turn of the archbishops and bishops who are members of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) to speak out. In an official statement on Monday, October 6, they expressed their “horror” at the verdict, recalling that the Congolese Constitution enshrines the sanctity of human life and that the execution of the death penalty constitutes a violation of the right to life defended by the Church.

CENCO denounced the “expeditious” trial and placed it in the context of the current crisis in the DRC, marked by the war against the M23 in the east of the country. It reiterated its call for inclusive dialogue, emphasizing the need to strengthen the national cohesion :

“Considering the concern raised by the ruling of the High Military Court and the urgent need to strengthen the national cohesion, we reiterate our call to stakeholders, who are passionate about love and peace for the DRC and involved in resolving its multiple crises, to seek political solutions,” stated the statement signed by Bishop Fulgence Muteba, President of CENCO.

For the Catholic prelates, dialogue is the “best way to address the root causes of this crisis and to restore unity, peace, harmonious coexistence, and the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo.”

They also warned :

“We consider the illusion that a just peace can be achieved by force of arms to be suicidal and irresponsible. We therefore reiterate our exhortation to the leaders of our country, to the armed and unarmed opposition, to members of the civil society, and to all the Congolese people, to firmly commit themselves to the fight against various factors that fuel conflicts and foster the culture of death and the great risk of the balkanization of our country.”

Joseph Kabila’s Conviction : The Facts

On September 30, 2025, the High Military Court sentenced Joseph Kabila, in absentia, to the death penalty and ordered him to pay $33 billion in damages : $29 billion for the Republic and $2 billion for each of the civil parties in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu.

The Court found him guilty of treason, participation in an insurrectional movement, and war crimes, designating him as the leader of the AFC/M23 coalition. According to the judges, the former president oversaw the rebel training centers, led staff meetings, and led hostilities against the DRC.

Kabila, who has been in exile for more than two years, was seen in Goma at the end of May, where he met with representatives of churches and women’s and youth associations.

The M23 and the AFC : Background

The M23, a Tutsi rebel group active since late 2021, accuses the Congolese authorities of failing to honor their reintegration commitments. Its members, affiliated with the Congo River Alliance (AFC), control several strategic locations in the mineral-rich Kivus and are suspected of receiving support from Rwanda, a charge Kigali denies.

According to the High Military Court, Kabila allegedly acted in collusion with Corneille Nangaa, former president of the CENI and coordinator of the AFC, as well as with Rwanda, in an attempt to overthrow the institutions of the Republic, including by eliminating the current president, Félix Tshisekedi.

The Court clarified that it would not rule on Kabila’s alleged Rwandan nationality and did not authorize the seizure of his assets.

Gravity of the facts

For the High Military Court, the actions Kabila is accused of are “extremely serious” and outrage millions of Congolese, as the former head of state ruled the country for 18 years, violating, according to the Court, his duty of confidentiality, dignity, and loyalty to the State.