The court's ruling follows submissions from lawyers representing the DRC government, who informed judges that new witnesses had come forward to testify against Kabila.
Me Richard Bondo, one of the seven government lawyers, told the court that the witnesses would provide evidence on how Kabila allegedly transferred funds to the AFC/M23 rebel coalition and would describe his role as 'a foreigner who led the DRC for 18 years.'
The court granted the lawyers' request, setting the new start date for the trial on September 19, 2025.
Kabila's trial initially began on July 25, 2025, in his absence. The prosecution charged him with treason, leading an unauthorised armed group, rape, and torture, asserting that the acts were committed in his capacity as a leader of AFC/M23.
Lawyers representing the DRC government argued that Kabila should not face treason charges on the grounds that he is not Congolese, but rather should be prosecuted for espionage on behalf of a foreign country.
The prosecution had sought the death penalty, while the government lawyers requested that Kabila's assets be seized and that he be fined USD 24 billion. A ruling on the requests was expected on September 12.
Meanwhile, Kabila publicly rejected the proceedings on September 2, asserting that the trial was politically motivated and designed to shield the government from accountability for crimes, including the misappropriation of state funds.
'These politically motivated charges were orchestrated by a government that lost credibility to evade its responsibilities. No concrete evidence has been presented to support these allegations," he stated.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/drc-military-court-orders-joseph-kabila-trial-to-start-afresh
