A Paris criminal court has sentenced former Congolese rebel leader Roger Lumbala to 30 years in prison. The verdict, delivered on Monday, found Lumbala guilty of complicity in crimes against humanity committed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the early 2000s.
Human rights organizations have hailed the sentence as “historic,” saying it ends decades of impunity in a region ravaged by war and conflict for over three decades. The court determined that Lumbala, 67, facilitated the crimes committed by his forces during the “Erase the Board” campaign (2002-2003) in northeastern Congo through “assistance or support.”
The charges included rape, torture, enslavement, forced labor, and organized crimes against civilians. DZWatch understands that the prosecution presented substantial evidence linking Lumbala directly to the atrocities.
The French judges described Lumbala as a political-military leader who exercised effective control over his forces. Lumbala attempted to defend himself by claiming he was merely a “political actor” without direct military command, despite the evidence presented by the prosecution.
Lumbala’s career is deeply intertwined with the Second Congo War (1998-2003). He led the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD), a rebel faction backed by Uganda. The RCD was part of a vast network of armed groups vying for control of territory and natural resources, supported by regional powers such as Uganda and Rwanda. In the summer of 2002, his forces launched a large-scale offensive against government forces, which, according to the United Nations, involved serious abuses against civilians in Ituri and Haut-Uélé. The areas became known for widespread human rights violations.
Rights groups have welcomed the verdict as “unprecedented,” stating that it represents a step towards ending impunity for crimes committed during the bloody conflicts in eastern Congo. The implications of this ruling are expected to resonate throughout the region, potentially encouraging further accountability for past atrocities.
