The death sentence handed down to former Congolese president Joseph Kabila has triggered shock and anxiety in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a region already plagued by conflict.
A military court convicted Kabila of treason, war crimes, and involvement in an insurrection movement, sentencing him to death. The decision comes at a time when Goma has been under the control of the AFC/M23 rebel alliance since January.
Residents fear the ruling could deepen instability. “His arrest could worsen the war. If he is really working with M23, they will be angry when he is arrested,” said Alewis Sambuka, a motorcycle taxi driver. Another resident, Amani Safari, argued the judgment would not bring peace, urging dialogue instead.
The M23 rebel group strongly condemned the verdict, describing it as political theater and a violation of the July declaration signed between Kinshasa and Kigali in Qatar. Lumumba Kambere, spokesperson for M23’s North Kivu governor, denounced the ruling as unjust.
Independent analyst Hubert Masomeko warned the sentence could damage national unity. “The conviction of Joseph Kabila will have a negative effect… All stakeholders, including the international community, have urged internal dialogue to promote unity,” he said.
The ruling also coincides with a sensitive diplomatic meeting between the DRC and Rwanda, expected to restart joint operations against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).
But in Goma, skepticism reigns. In a country scarred by decades of violence, many fear Kabila’s sentence risks pushing the DRC deeper into division and instability.
