Kinshasa, September 29th, 2025 (CPA). – The verdict in the case between the public prosecutor’s office and civil parties, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and former President Joseph Kabila, who is on trial for participating in an insurrectionary movement, is expected on Tuesday, September 30th, according to the High Military Court’s case file consulted by the CPA on Monday in Kinshasa.
“The hearing of the High Military Court on Tuesday, September 30th will rule on the case between the military public prosecutor’s office and the civil parties, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the province of Nord Kivu, the province of Sud Kivu, and the province of Ituri, against Senator for Life Joseph Kabila,” according to the extract signed by Jeanne-Françoise Ngalula, chief clerk of the High Military Court. It should be recalled that, during the hearing to reopen the proceedings on September 19th, the magistrate of the military prosecutor’s office reiterated his closing speech requesting the High Court to sentence former President Joseph Kabila to death for participating in an insurrectionary movement, crimes against humanity through rape, killings by shooting, and condoning terrorism.
He also requested the seizure of former President Joseph Kabila’s assets and his immediate arrest. “We reiterate, Mr. President, our closing arguments and ask you to take them into account during your deliberations,” has said Brigadier General Kiamandja. For their part, the civil parties DRC, the provinces of Nord Kivu, Sud Kivu, Ituri, and an organization defending the interests of the victims also reiterated their pleas.
“Given the seriousness of the acts committed by the defendant Joseph Kabila, it is important that the High Court, in addition to reclassifying the offense from treason to espionage, reassess the damages and interest to be awarded to the civil parties at US$31,000,000,” added Jean Marie Kabengela Ilunga. “Regarding the denial of Congolese nationality to the defendant Kabila, this is not an invention of the Republic’s lawyers,” he insisted, stating that they referred to statements made by certain individuals and public figures on this subject, notably Professor Ngoy Mukena, Moïse Katumbi, Willy Mishiki, Vital Kamerhe, Honoré Ngwanda, and Jean-Pierre Bemba in a statement made on Radio Top Congo FM and shared by Pepele New in June 2025, as well as international writer Va Lengi Ngemi.
He also informed the High Military Court that there is no doubt that Kabila is Rwandan and came to DRC as a spy. The indictment of Senator for Life Joseph Kabila stems from the fact that the country is facing aggression from Rwanda, through the AFC-M23 coalition in Nord Kivu and Sud Kivu. The latter had decided to return to the country from Namibia, where he was staying, via Goma, according to the Republic’s lawyers.