The Fall of a Strongman: Joseph Kabila’s Death Sentence

 By   Mutunga Tobbias | The Common Pulse/latest news/ Kenya/United States/Africa /October 2025

When Joseph Kabila first assumed power in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he was viewed by many as the face of a new beginning after years of chaos under his father Laurent-Désiré Kabila. Young, calm, and seemingly reform-minded, he presented himself as the leader who would stabilize a fractured nation and move it toward democracy. Two decades later, the story of Joseph Kabila has taken a shocking and historic turn, as news spreads of his sentencing to death for war crimes. This moment has not only stunned Congolese citizens but has also reverberated far beyond Africa’s borders, opening a new chapter in the global fight for accountability.

The Rise of Joseph Kabila

Kabila was thrust into power in 2001 after the assassination of his father. At the time, the Democratic Republic of Congo was embroiled in what was often called “Africa’s World War,” a multi-sided conflict involving multiple armed groups and regional powers. The younger Kabila inherited both the presidency and the responsibility of managing a country fractured by warlords, militias, and international interference. He quickly moved to negotiate peace, and by 2003, a fragile deal had been brokered to end the war that had killed millions.

But while Kabila appeared to be a stabilizing figure in the eyes of the international community, inside Congo many accused him of presiding over a kleptocratic system. The country’s vast mineral wealth, cobalt, coltan, diamonds, and gold, became a curse rather than a blessing. Armed groups and state-linked militias allegedly exploited these resources, fueling conflict and committing atrocities against civilians. Kabila, who remained in power until 2019, was increasingly accused of being complicit in, or directly enabling, these abuses.

The Charges Against Him

The death sentence handed down is rooted in a long list of accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Testimonies from survivors paint a harrowing picture of mass killings, systemic sexual violence, and forced displacement. Many of these atrocities occurred during the wars of the early 2000s, but others were linked to military campaigns carried out under Kabila’s rule even after peace agreements were signed.

Critics argue that his government not only tolerated but also enabled armed groups to operate in the eastern regions of Congo in exchange for a share of profits from illegal mining. These arrangements, they say, entrenched cycles of violence that devastated ordinary Congolese communities. Women and children bore the brunt of the brutality, with widespread reports of rape used as a weapon of war.

International organizations, from Human Rights Watch to the United Nations, documented these abuses for years. Yet Kabila remained shielded by political power, regional alliances, and the reluctance of global actors to destabilize Congo further by pursuing accountability. His departure from office in 2019, however, marked a turning point.

A New Era of Justice in Congo

The trial of Joseph Kabila has been unprecedented. For a former head of state to stand in the dock of Congolese courts is a landmark moment, not only for Congo but for Africa as a whole. Traditionally, African leaders accused of grave crimes have been tried outside the continent, often in The Hague under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. By prosecuting Kabila domestically, Congo has attempted to reclaim its own sovereignty in matters of justice.

The proceedings themselves have been dramatic, with witnesses recounting horrors and prosecutors laying out how systemic violence was linked to decisions made at the very top of the state. Defense lawyers argued that Kabila was being scapegoated for a conflict that was immensely complex and involved multiple actors beyond his control. Nonetheless, the court ruled that his role was central and decisive, sealing his fate with a sentence that shocked both supporters and critics alike.

The Death Penalty Debate

The use of the death penalty in Kabila’s sentencing has ignited fierce debate. Human rights groups have long opposed capital punishment, even for the most egregious crimes. They argue that true justice should focus on accountability and reparations rather than state-sanctioned execution. Critics fear that executing Kabila could turn him into a martyr for certain factions and destabilize fragile peace in regions still recovering from conflict.

On the other hand, many Congolese citizens see the sentence as a long-overdue reckoning. For survivors of massacres and sexual violence, the symbolic weight of such a judgment cannot be overstated. To them, this is justice finally speaking after decades of silence, a sign that even the most powerful are not above the law.

Regional and Global Reactions

Congo’s neighbors have watched events unfold with mixed reactions. Some governments quietly support the conviction, seeing it as a deterrent against impunity. Others are wary, particularly those with their own histories of leaders accused of war crimes. Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi, countries deeply enmeshed in Congo’s past conflicts, have remained cautious in their official statements, but analysts believe they are closely evaluating how this precedent might one day apply to them.

On the global stage, Western powers have been publicly supportive of accountability while privately anxious about stability in Congo. The country remains critical to global supply chains due to its dominance in cobalt production, essential for electric vehicles and digital devices. Any political unrest triggered by Kabila’s sentencing could have far-reaching economic consequences.

The Role of Memory and Healing

Beyond politics, the trial forces Congo to confront its own traumatic history. For years, victims of war crimes were silenced or forgotten as elites profited from instability. This moment has reignited conversations about memory, truth, and reconciliation. Many survivors hope that Kabila’s sentencing is not an isolated gesture but the beginning of a broader reckoning with the past.

Civil society groups are calling for truth commissions, reparations programs, and renewed efforts to dismantle the structures that allowed atrocities to flourish. They argue that justice must go beyond punishing one man and instead create systemic change to ensure such crimes are never repeated.

Kabila’s Legacy in Shambles

For Joseph Kabila himself, the fall has been steep. Once hailed as a stabilizer, he will now be remembered as a symbol of impunity brought to trial. His family, still influential in Congolese politics, faces an uncertain future. His supporters claim that the trial was politically motivated, engineered by rivals to erase his legacy. But the sheer weight of evidence presented against him makes such claims hard to sustain outside his shrinking circle of loyalists.

The sentencing of Joseph Kabila does not resolve Congo’s deeper crises. Armed groups continue to roam in the east, corruption still eats away at state institutions, and millions remain in poverty despite the country’s immense natural wealth. Yet this moment has the potential to mark a turning point. By demonstrating that even a former president can be held accountable, Congo may have planted the seeds of a stronger culture of justice.

The challenge will be to ensure that this accountability is not selective or used as a political weapon. True justice must be impartial, transparent, and committed to serving victims rather than settling scores. Whether Congo can rise to that challenge remains to be seen, but Kabila’s sentencing has already changed the rules of the game.

A Historic Precedent

In the end, the story of Joseph Kabila’s death sentence is bigger than one man. It is about Congo’s long struggle with war, exploitation, and impunity. It is about a people who have suffered greatly and are now demanding justice. And it is about Africa’s evolving relationship with accountability, where leaders can no longer assume that power will shield them forever from the consequences of their actions.

The death sentence may or may not be carried out. Political negotiations, international pressure, or legal appeals could alter the outcome. But the symbolic impact has already been made. For Congo, and for the world, the era of impunity is showing cracks. Joseph Kabila’s fall serves as a powerful reminder that history eventually calls even the most untouchable to account.