Dj Vnyash
Two more soldiers have been sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo for fleeing battles in the conflict-ridden North Kivu province, according to a military court statement on Friday.
The Congolese army has been engaged in a prolonged battle against the Rwanda-backed M23 insurgency for over two years, alongside other militias in the eastern borderlands. Last week, the rebels captured the strategically significant commune of Kanyabayonga.
This latest ruling, following the death sentences of 25 soldiers on Thursday, highlights the authorities’ intent to curb desertions, which have undermined Congo’s position in the conflict.
“This trial aims to deter and educate soldiers by showing that fleeing the front lines results in severe consequences rather than protection,” stated state magistrate Kahambu Muhasa Melissa to Reuters.
The military tribunal reported that one soldier, Kakule Mupasula Raphael, deserted the front line in Kanyabayonga and was also found guilty of murdering an officer’s child.
Raphael pleaded not guilty and denied the murder, claiming he was not the only one who fled the front line. “Many soldiers, including our commanders, fled Kanyabayonga,” he told Reuters, and he intends to appeal the sentence.
Another soldier was accused of shooting at an ambulance when the driver refused to take him away from the battlefield. He pleaded guilty and requested consideration of extenuating circumstances.
In February, Congo lifted a 20-year moratorium on the death penalty for crimes such as desertion and treason.
Amnesty International criticized this move, warning, “With an inefficient and ineffective justice system, the government’s appalling decision puts many innocent people at risk of execution.”
Silverio Omari
Muthomi Ireri
