Former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila has been sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes and treason.

Among the charges against Kabila is that he supports the M23 rebels, who have wreaked havoc in the country's eastern region.

On Friday, the country's military court found him guilty of treason, crimes against humanity, as well as war crimes including murder, sexual assault, torture and rebellion.

Kabila has denied the charges, but has not appeared in court to defend himself.

The former president has called the charges "arbitrary" and dismissed the trial as "a tool of oppression."

Joseph Kabila's current whereabouts are unknown.

Kabila, 54, has ruled the country for 18 years, succeeding his father, Laurent, who was assassinated in 2001.

Kabila handed power to President Felix Tshisekedi in 2019, but later resigned in 2023 after a disagreement between the two.

In April last year, the former president said he wanted to find a solution to the bloody war in the eastern part of the country, and the following month he arrived in the city of Goma, which is held by the M23 rebels.

Following this, President Tshisekedi had senators waive his immunity to allow him to indict Kabila, accusing him of being the main driver behind the M23 attacks.

Despite a ceasefire agreement signed between the rebels and the government in July last year, the conflict has continued.