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Twenty-five soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were sentenced to death by a military tribunal for abandoning their posts and stealing from nearby villages during clashes with the M23 rebel group in the country’s volatile eastern region.
The harsh verdict, delivered on Wednesday, comes amidst a surge in fighting between the DRC army and the M23. The rebels have recently captured strategic towns, displacing over 150,000 civilians and worsening the existing humanitarian crisis.
The soldiers’ convictions included theft and violation of orders, in addition to fleeing the enemy. While the army blames desertion for hampering its fight against the rebels, a lawyer representing the soldiers, including two captains, plans to appeal the sentences. This follows a similar case in May, where eight soldiers received death penalties for desertion against rebel forces.
The death sentences raise concerns about human rights in the DRC. This punishment marks the first execution after a more than 20-year moratorium was lifted in March by the government. The justice minister justified the decision as a means to remove “traitors” from the military.
The M23 rebels, accused of receiving backing from neighboring Rwanda (which denies the claim), have been active since 2012. They claim to protect the Tutsi minority in eastern DRC, who have faced marginalization. The UN has expressed serious concerns about the escalating violence and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in North Kivu.
The DRC’s struggle against the M23 and other rebel groups is hampered by its own army’s shortcomings. Soldiers are reportedly underpaid, poorly equipped, and undisciplined. Despite the presence of UN and regional troops supporting the DRC army, the violence persists. The M23, on the other hand, is described as well-armed and disciplined.
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