Kinshasa, DRC - 8 January 2026

The Minister of Finance of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Adolphe Muzito, stated on 8 January that former President Joseph Kabila Kabange should not be considered an enemy of the state, despite a death sentence handed down by the DRC’s High Military Court. Kabila, who led the country from 2001 to 2019, has had a strained relationship with current President Félix Tshisekedi. Following accusations that he collaborated with the AFC/M23 rebel group controlling large parts of eastern DRC, Kabila fled to South Africa at the end of 2023. In September 2025, the High Military Court confirmed Kabila as the leader of AFC/M23, found him guilty of treason, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and membership in an illegal armed group, and sentenced him to death. During an interview with France 24, Muzito, who has been Finance Minister under Tshisekedi since August 2025, clarified his position: “He is not an enemy of the DRC. I am not commenting on the court’s decision. We are a country at war, it is a military court that has made a decision. I am not commenting.” When asked if he believed Tshisekedi would carry out the death sentence if Kabila were arrested, Muzito responded that, to his knowledge, the President would not do so. Muzito’s remarks come amid ongoing political tensions in the DRC over Kabila’s alleged role with rebel forces and reflect a cautious approach to a highly sensitive issue.

Faits rapportés

The Minister of Finance of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Adolphe Muzito, stated on 8 January that former President Joseph Kabila Kabange should not be considered an enemy of the state, despite a death sentence handed down by the DRC’s High Military Court. Kabila, who led the country from 2001 to 2019, has had a strained relationship with current President Félix Tshisekedi. Following accusations that he collaborated with the AFC/M23 rebel group controlling large parts of eastern DRC, Kabila fled to South Africa at the end of 2023. In September 2025, the High Military Court confirmed Kabila as the leader of AFC/M23, found him guilty of treason, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and membership in an illegal armed group, and sentenced him to death. During an interview with France 24, Muzito, who has been Finance Minister under Tshisekedi since August 2025, clarified his position: “He is not an enemy of the DRC. I am not commenting on the court’s decision. We are a country at war, it is a military court that has made a decision. I am not commenting.” When asked if he believed Tshisekedi would carry out the death sentence if Kabila were arrested, Muzito responded that, to his knowledge, the President would not do so. Muzito’s remarks come amid ongoing political tensions in the DRC over Kabila’s alleged role with rebel forces and reflect a cautious approach to a highly sensitive issue.