A French court has sentenced Roger Lumbala, a former rebel leader and politician from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), to 30 years in prison. The verdict, delivered on Monday, found him guilty of complicity in crimes against humanity committed over two decades ago. Mr. Lumbala, 67, was present for the verdict but had not attended the trial, which commenced last month. He has consistently rejected the legitimacy of the Paris court.
The court found Mr. Lumbala guilty of ordering or aiding and abetting torture, inhumane crimes, summary executions, rape constituting torture, sexual slavery, forced labour, and theft. These actions occurred during a period known as the Second Congo War (1998-2003), a conflict that involved nine countries and multiple rebel groups, resulting in an estimated two to five million deaths.
Mr. Lumbala led the Rally of Congolese Democrats and Nationalists (RCD-N), a rebel movement supported by Uganda. The group is accused of carrying out atrocities during an operation between 2002 and 2003, referred to as "Erase the Slate." This operation reportedly targeted members of the Nande and Bambuti ethnic groups in the north-eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, who were accused of supporting a rival militia. A United Nations investigation described the operation as characterized by "premeditated operations using looting, rape and summary execution as tools of warfare."
Mr. Lumbala's case was prosecuted under the principle of "universal jurisdiction," which permits French courts to address crimes against humanity committed outside France. Five non-governmental organizations, including Trial International and the Clooney Foundation for Justice, collaborated in the trial, assisting survivors in providing testimony and requesting expert analyses. Trial International reported that 65 survivors, witnesses, and experts testified regarding the "Erase the Slate" operation.
Two survivors, David Karamay Kasereka and Pisco Sirikivuya Paluku, issued a statement following the verdict, emphasizing the importance of truth and justice. Mr. Kasereka, 41, testified about his father and neighbors being tortured and killed by Lumbala's forces. Mr. Paluku, 50, a nurse, recounted being robbed and injured, the killing of his uncle, and the rape of his friend's wife.
Roger Lumbala had served as a minister in DR Congo's transitional government from 2003 to 2005 and later as a member of parliament. He fled to France after the Congolese government issued an arrest warrant related to his alleged support for the M23 rebel group, which is currently active in eastern DR Congo. Mr. Lumbala was arrested in France nearly five years ago.
Prosecutors in the case had sought a life sentence. Mr. Lumbala's legal team has indicated that they have 10 days to file an appeal and described the 30-year sentence as excessive.
The eastern DR Congo, an area rich in minerals, has experienced conflict for over 30 years, stemming from the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Previous peace agreements dating back to the 1990s have failed. Human rights organizations have acknowledged the verdict as a significant development for accountability in the ongoing conflict. Daniele Perissi of Trial International stated that the verdict is "historic" and demonstrates that justice can be achieved despite decades of impunity. Other militia leaders, such as Thomas Lubanga, Germain Katanga, and Bosco Ntaganda, have previously been convicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for abuses in eastern DR Congo.