BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo – A harsh sentence has been handed down in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a military tribunal condemned 25 soldiers to death for abandoning their posts, theft, and disobeying orders.
The condemned soldiers were captured last week after fleeing battles against the M23 rebel group in North Kivu province, a region already ravaged by conflict. The ongoing M23 insurgency, backed by neighboring Rwanda, has displaced an estimated 2.7 million people within the province alone.
The soldiers, who deserted their positions in the villages of Keseghe and Matembe, were apprehended in the nearby village of Alimbongo, according to army spokesman Reagan Mbuyi Kalonji. Kalonji further alleged that the fleeing soldiers were caught stealing goods from local shops.
Four women, believed to be the wives of some of the soldiers, were also detained in Alimbongo as they were found in possession of the allegedly stolen goods. However, unlike their husbands, they were acquitted of any wrongdoing due to lack of evidence.
A swift trial was conducted in Alimbongo on Wednesday, resulting in the harsh sentences. One soldier received a 10-year prison term, while another soldier and the four women were exonerated. All but one of the condemned soldiers pleaded not guilty, with the lone exception admitting guilt.
The lawyer representing the soldiers, Jules Muvweko, has vowed to appeal the verdict.
The DRC’s decision to reinstate the death penalty in March, citing the prevalence of treachery and espionage during ongoing armed conflicts, has also raised concerns. While the country had imposed a moratorium on capital punishment in the early 2000s, the penalty had never been officially abolished.
