The former Congolese rebel leader is on trial in Paris for war crimes

It is likely that few people know that the former Congolese rebel leader is on trial in Paris for war crimes.

The trial of Roger Lumbala began at the Paris International Criminal Court. He is accused of crimes against humanity committed during the Second Congo War (1998–2003), according to Western media reports. Roger Lumbala Tshitenga (born 1958) is a Congolese politician and former rebel leader who serves as a member of parliament in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and represents the Congolese Democratic and Nationalist Assembly. Lumbala's Background Lumbala rose to prominence as the leader of the Congolese Rally for Democracy-National (RCD-N), a rebel group supported by Uganda during the Second Congo War (1998–2002). His group participated in the military operation "Effacer le tableau" (Erase the Tablet) in the resource-rich eastern province of North Kivu Ituri, which targeted the Lendu ethnic group and aimed to seize territory around Beni. He later entered politics and served as a government minister in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The 67-year-old, who led the Congolese National Assembly (RND), is accused of complicity in atrocities such as executions, torture, and the sexual enslavement of civilians in eastern Congo. Lumbala's Arrest and Indictment Lumbala was arrested in Paris in December 2020 under the French principle of universal jurisdiction. This allows for the prosecution of serious international crimes regardless of where they were committed or the perpetrator's nationality. On November 6, 2023, he was indicted for aiding and abetting crimes against humanity, including extrajudicial killings, torture, inhuman treatment, rape, pillaging, and enslavement (including sexual slavery). The crimes were allegedly committed by his forces between 2002 and 2003. The Paris Court of Appeal upheld the indictment on February 28, 2024. Lumbala had previously been suspected of torture and cannibalism in connection with his rebel activities. Lumbala's ongoing trial On November 13, 2025, Lumbala's trial began at the Paris Criminal Court. It was the first time a Congolese citizen had been charged in France for atrocities committed during the DRC conflict. The case is considered a milestone on the path to accountability for the victims of the more than 30-year armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where impunity has long prevailed, and underscores the role of international judicial mechanisms in combating ongoing abuses in the region. Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, hailed the trial as crucial for ending the cycle of violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. After the conflict, Lumbala was a member of the Congolese transitional government and parliament. He fled to France in 2011 after the Congolese government issued an arrest warrant for him on charges of allegedly supporting the M23 rebel group. This is the first trial of a Congolese leader under France's principle of universal jurisdiction. A verdict is expected on December 19. @https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/11/12/trial-of-ex-congolese-warlord-important-step-for-justice @https://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/drc-landmark-trial-in-paris-of-congolese-armed-group-leader-is-a-crucial-step-to-ending-impunity/