Beni: A military tribunal in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced twenty-five soldiers to death for deserting battles against M23 rebels and engaging in theft. The verdict, delivered on Thursday, underscores the severity of military discipline amid ongoing conflicts in the region, according to their lawyer and an army spokesman.
Congo’s military has been locked in a prolonged struggle against the M23 insurgency, backed by Rwanda, alongside other militia violence. The conflict has displaced approximately 2.7 million people within North Kivu province. Recent rebel advancements into strategically vital areas have heightened tensions.
Last Tuesday, army forces apprehended 27 soldiers who had abandoned their posts in Keseghe and Matembe villages, citing the soldiers’ involvement in looting local shops in Alimbongo. Army spokesman Reagan Mbuyi Kalonji reported that the soldiers were caught with stolen goods, alongside four of their wives who were residing in the village.
A military tribunal convened swiftly in Alimbongo the following day, resulting in 25 soldiers receiving death sentences for offenses including theft, dereliction of duty, and disobeying orders. One soldier was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while four wives and another soldier were acquitted. Despite most soldiers denying the charges, one admitted guilt.
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Defense lawyer Jules Muvweko expressed intent to appeal the tribunal’s decision, highlighting procedural concerns and potential miscarriages of justice. The sentencing adds to existing challenges within Congo’s military, plagued by internal strife, inadequate resources, logistical failures, and systemic corruption, exacerbating operational inefficiencies during crisis moments.
In May, eight officers were similarly sentenced to death for acts of cowardice and related offenses, exposing deep-seated disarray within Congo’s armed forces. The country reinstated the death penalty in March, citing ongoing treachery and espionage in recurrent armed conflicts.
