A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced former President Joseph Kabila to death in absentia, convicting him of crimes including war crimes.

Lieutenant-General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi, who presided the military tribunal in the capital, told the court on Tuesday that Kabila was convicted of various crimes including treason, crimes against humanity, murder, sexual assault, torture and insurrection.

Kabila spent almost two decades in power and only stepped down after deadly protests against him.

Since late 2023, he has been residing mostly in South Africa, though he did appear in rebel-held Goma in eastern DR Congo in May.