DRC soldiers sentenced to death for desertion

Lina Portman3 days ago

0 2 minutes read

Twenty-five soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo's army have been sentenced to death for fleeing fighting against M23 rebels in the conflict-torn east of the country.

The soldiers were also found guilty of theft by a military court, as they stole goods from shops in a nearby village after abandoning their positions, an army spokesman said.

Four soldiers' wives were acquitted by the military court of receiving property looted by their husbands.

In March, the government lifted a moratorium on the death penalty that had been in place for more than 20 years after the justice minister raised the need to exclude “traitors” from the military.

A lawyer for the soldiers said he would appeal the sentence, handed down Wednesday by the military court in DRC's North Kivu province.

In addition to the 25 people sentenced to death, one soldier was sentenced to 10 years in prison and another was acquitted.

In May, a military court in the city of Goma sentenced eight soldiers to death for “desertion” and “cowardice” in fighting rebel forces. They too have appealed their convictions.

The M23 rebels have captured several towns in recent days, including the strategic town of Kanyabayonga.

Neighbouring Rwanda is widely accused of supporting the M23, but the government in Kigali denies this.

The UN said the current situation in North Kivu was “particularly worrying”.

Over the past week, more than 150,000 civilians have fled their homes, worsening the humanitarian crisis in a region where 2.8 million people have already been displaced.

North Kivu is also “perilous” for aid workers, the UN adds.

On Sunday, two aid workers from the charity Tearfund were killed after their convoy was attacked in the town of Butembo.

The army's fight against the M23 and other rebel groups in the east of the country has long been hampered by disarray within its ranks.

The army is seen as unprofessional and poorly disciplined. Soldiers complain of low pay and a lack of equipment.

The UN and regional states have deployed troops to the DRC to support the army, but they have failed to stem the violence.

M23 fighters are said to be well-armed and disciplined.

The rebel group began operating in 2012, ostensibly to protect the Tutsi population of eastern DRC, which had long complained of persecution and discrimination.

Despite Rwanda's denials, UN experts – as well as France and the United States – say the M23 is backed by the government of President Paul Kagame.