DRC: 25 soldiers executed for “fleeing from the enemy” (lawyer) | AIB

2024-07-04 10:30:06

Twenty-five Congolese soldiers accused of “running away from the enemy” during a recent fight against M23 rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo were sentenced to death, after one day, we learned from one of their lawyers, 31 defendant (27 soldiers and 4 civilian women, soldiers’ wives) appeared in this trial in a “flag” (immediate appearance) before the court soldier from Butembo garrison (North Kivu) sitting in a mobile audience near the front line , in the village of Alimbongo.

They were prosecuted for “running away from the enemy”, “dispersing munitions of war”, “violating instructions” and “theft”, Mise Jules Muvweko, one of the defense lawyers, told AFP.

At the end of the hearing, “25 soldiers, including two captains, were sentenced to death,” announced Mr. Muvweko, announcing the defense’s intention to appeal those convictions.

The other accused, including the four women, were acquitted due to lack of evidence, he said.

Since the end of last week, the rebels of the M23 (“March 23 Movement”), with the support of Rwanda, have gained control of several places on the northern side of the conflict, especially Kanyabayonga.

Located about a hundred kilometers from Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, Kanyabayonga is considered a barrier that controls access from the north to the towns of Butembo and Beni, strongholds of the important Nande tribe and major commercial centers of the country.

Since the end of 2021, the M23, a predominantly Tutsi Congolese rebellion, has secured large areas of territory in North Kivu, supported by Rwandan army units, almost entirely around Goma.

The defeat of the Congolese army and its auxiliary militia against this rebel advance raised suspicions among the authorities about the infiltration of the security forces.

Many soldiers, including senior officers, deputies, senators and economic figures in eastern DRC were arrested and accused of “complicity with the enemy”.

In March, Kinshasa also announced its decision to lift a moratorium on the execution of the death penalty that had been in place for over 20 years in the DRC. According to the government, this measure, which has been widely criticized by human rights organizations, particularly targets soldiers accused of treason.

At the beginning of May, eight Congolese soldiers, including five officers, were sentenced to death in Goma for “cowardice” and “running away from the enemy”.

By AFP