DR Congo: Ex-rebel leader sentenced to 30 years for war crimes

A French court sentenced former Congolese rebel leader Roger Lumbala to 30 years in prison on December 15th for crimes committed during the Second Congo War, according to AP News.

Lumbala, 67, was convicted of complicity in crimes against humanity for abuses carried out by fighters under his command in eastern Congo between 2002 and 2003. The verdict was delivered under France’s universal jurisdiction framework, which allows national courts to prosecute serious international crimes regardless of where they occurred. His lawyer described the sentence as excessive and confirmed that an appeal may be filed.

As leader of the Congolese Rally for National Democracy, an armed group backed by Uganda, Lumbala oversaw operations that targeted civilian populations, particularly members of the Nande and Bambuti communities. United Nations reports documented widespread abuses, including torture, executions, rape, forced labour and sexual slavery.

Victim testimonies were central to the trial. David Karamay Kasereka, 41, told the court that his father and neighbours were tortured and killed after being accused of supporting a rival militia. He described acts of extreme brutality that continue to affect him decades later.

Another survivor, Pisco Sirikivuya Paluku, 50, said rebel fighters looted his family’s home and forced him to perform hard labour at gunpoint for several weeks. Speaking after the verdict, Paluku said it represented long-delayed justice for crimes committed more than 20 years ago.

Lumbala rejected the legitimacy of the French court and was absent for much of the proceedings. Observers note that accountability for crimes committed during the Second Congo War has historically been limited, with some former militia leaders later entering government or military positions. The French court’s 30-year sentence for Lumbala under the principle of universal jurisdiction represents a rare legal victory, demonstrating that international mechanisms can hold perpetrators to account, even decades after the crimes.

At the same time, domestic rulings such as the high military court’s death sentence in absentia for former president Joseph Kabila over alleged support of the M23 rebel group signal that Congolese authorities are pursuing accountability for past war crimes. While these cases are significant for the rule of law, armed groups remain active in eastern Congo, and the security situation continues to be shaped by regional developments, including the recently signed Rwanda–DRC peace agreement.

AP News, Maghrebi.org