A High Military Court in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has sentenced the country’s former president, Joseph Kabila to death in absentia, ordering his immediate arrest.
Kabila has been facing trial in absentia since July this year after the Félix Tshisekedi-led government accused him of collaborating with Rwanda and rebel group AFC/M23 in an assault of key cities in eastern DRC.
He was convicted on Friday by the military court for treason, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, including murder, sexual assault, torture and insurrection.
The Court ordered him to pay $29 billion to Congo, $2 billion to the country’s province of North Kivu and $2 billion to South Kivu for damages.
Although Joseph Kabila has previously expressed support for the AFC/M23 rebel group’s campaign, he has denied all charges leveled against him.
It is unclear how the Court intends to enforce his immediate arrest and carry out the sentence while the former president remains at large.
