Justice and Discipline: Congolese Soldiers Sentenced to Death

A military tribunal in the DRC sentenced 13 soldiers to death for crimes like murder and cowardice, aiming to improve army discipline amid ongoing conflicts. The trials in Lubero are part of efforts to restore trust between the army and citizens. Convicted soldiers plan to appeal.

In a significant move to enforce military discipline, 13 soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been sentenced to death by a military tribunal. The charges, including murder, looting, and cowardice, highlight ongoing issues in the army as it faces territorial losses against insurgencies and militia violence.

The sentences were handed down in Lubero, North Kivu province, an area fraught with conflict from the Rwanda-backed M23 insurgency and other militia groups. Incidents of soldiers abandoning their posts have allowed enemy advances, prompting military authorities to take stern actions.

Military prosecutor Kabala Kabundi underscored the trials' role in rebuilding trust between the armed forces and the civilian population. Twenty-four soldiers faced trial, with varying sentences and outcomes. Appeals are planned by those convicted, maintaining their innocence in the proceedings.

(With inputs from agencies.)