The treason trial of Joseph Kabila, former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), has commenced in a military court in Kinshasa, the country’s Capital.
Kabila also faces other charges, encompassing murder and rape, connected to his alleged support for M23 rebels – who control a large part of the mineral-rich east of the country.
He denies the charges, and did not appear at the hearing and has asked for trial in absentia.
President Félix Tshisekedi, successor of Kabila, has accused him of being the mastermind of the rebels.
The former President has rejected the case as “arbitrary” and said the courts were being used as an “instrument of oppression”.
The Friday trial was adjourned to the end of the month after several hours, after a request by prosecutors for extra time to review documents.
Despite ceasefire deal between the rebels and the government being agreed last week, fighting has not stopped.
For two years, Kabila had been living outside the DR Congo, but, arrived in the rebel-held city of Goma, in the eastern region of the country, from self-imposed exile in South Africa in May.