Twenty-five soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have sentenced to death for allegedly “fleeing the enemy” during a confrontation with M23 rebels.
The Butembo Garrison military court in North Kivu province delivered the verdict following a one-day trial. Thirty-one individuals, including 27 soldiers and four civilian wives, faced the court.
Concerns have been raised about the fairness and transparency of the trial.
The soldiers faced charges including “fleeing the enemy,” misusing war supplies, disobeying orders, and theft, according to defense lawyer Jules Muvweko, who spoke to AFP.
Muvweko stated that “25 soldiers, including two captains, have been given the death penalty” and noted that the defense team plans to appeal. The other accused, including the four women, were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
Since last week, the M23 rebels have captured several towns, including the strategic Kanyabayonga, a gateway to the commercial centers of Butembo and Beni. The rebels have nearly encircled Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, resulting in scores of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands.
The DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, a claim that Kigali denies. For over three decades, DR Congo’s mineral-rich east has been plagued by fighting between local and foreign-based armed groups seeking control over the region’s vast resources.
In March of last year, the Congolese government ended a 20-year moratorium on the death penalty, primarily targeting soldiers accused of treason amid an armed rebellion in the eastern part of the country.
In May, eight Congolese soldiers, including five officers, were sentenced to death in Goma for “cowardice” and “fleeing the enemy.”