The verdict comes at a sensitive time for the Central African Republic where power struggles have long plagued the government in the capital Kinshasa, and where civil strife is paralyzing large parts of the eastern part of the country.
Kabila was defeated by presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi, who began his term in January 2019. He was present at the inauguration ceremony, but has since gone into exile.
In addition to high treason, Kabila has been accused of collaborating with Rwanda and the rebel group M23, which is active in eastern Congo-Kinshasa. Kabila denies the allegations.
Joseph Kabila is the son of the country's former president Laurent Kabila, who in turn overthrew the then-dictator Mobuto Sese Seko in 1997 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which was then called Zaire.
