Kinshasa, DRC – Former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila has been sentenced to death in absentia following a trial centered on charges of treason, crimes against humanity, and corruption, the DRC government announced last month. The verdict comes as scrutiny intensifies over alleged profiteering and violent reprisals linked to conservation efforts and land exploitation within the countryS protected areas, including the Mangrove Marine Park.
The case highlights a pattern of intimidation and violence targeting those who expose illegal activities within the DRC’s natural resource sector. Investigations by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism reveal a network of alleged corruption involving high-ranking officials, illegal oil logging, and plantation development within protected mangrove forests. These activities have been met with resistance from local communities and whistleblowers, frequently enough resulting in threats, attacks, and, in one instance, the murder of a German conservationist and his family.
In 2013, German national Jörg Rebholz, who managed the Mangrove Marine park, began documenting evidence of illegal logging and oil exploration within the protected zone. He reported his findings to the authorities, but rather of action, he and his family faced escalating threats. In July 2014, Rebholz, his wife, and their two children were attacked and killed at their home. The perpetrators were never brought to justice.
The inquiry points to a complex web of actors allegedly involved in the exploitation of the Mangrove Marine Park.These include Celestin Ngumbi and Jean-Claude Wilungula, former officials accused of facilitating illegal activities and profiting from wildlife trafficking. Both men have denied the allegations. Congo Dihao,a company claiming ownership of a legal port within the area,asserts it possesses all necessary authorizations and denies affiliation with Maniema Union,another company implicated in the illicit trade.
The US government has declared Ngumbi and Wilungula ineligible for entry to the US, citing their alleged involvement in “significant corruption.”
Kabila’s conviction, though criticized by Human Rights Watch as a “political vendetta,” underscores the DRC government’s stated commitment to tackling corruption and holding those responsible for abuses accountable. Rebholz, despite the tragic loss of his family, expressed hope that his experience will raise awareness and contribute to a more responsible approach to conservation and land management in the DRC. The full investigation is available at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism: https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025-11-11/drc-mangroves-conservation-attacks-illegal-oil-logging-plantations.
