North Kivu : 25 Congolese soldiers sentenced to the death penalty

The North Kivu garrison Military Court has delivered its verdict in a case involving 27 elements of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and 4 civilians. The trial took place on Wednesday in Alimbongo in the Lubero territory. INFO SOS Médias Burundi
The Court sentenced two soldiers to 10 years of penal servitude for robbery.
The other 25 were all sentenced to death. Among other offenses against them : the dissipation of war ammunition.
The military justice released the four civilians who are wives of some of these soldiers who also appeared before the bar.
According to military authorities, the convicts committed the offenses at the time of the Front-North operations, led by Major General Shicko Tshitambwe Jérôme.
Some political actors support this decision by the military justice which, for them, could help put things back in order.
In an interview with local media, a deputy from the Lubero constituency welcomed “this decision which should serve as a lesson to other bad apples in the army ».
This elected official asks the military justice system to refine strategies to set up a military police capable of monitoring the movement on the front lines.
“Justice must go beyond that. There must be a military police (MP) to monitor the movement on the front line upstream and downstream. If there are those who are fleeing, the MP must see how to put the train back on the rails. We salute what the military justice has done,” assured honorary deputy Tembos Yotama.
Tembos Yotama calls on inhabitants of Butembo and surrounding areas to support the FARDC and local militias maintained by Congolese authorities who are on the front lines to encourage them not to give in to panic.
Among the condemned, a first-class soldier who was being pursued by the public prosecutor for having shot and killed a civilian.
He was sentenced to death. This soldier was also ordered to pay 40,000 US dollars to the victim’s family.
Wednesday’s hearing was led by major magistrate Toussaint Lenga, says an extract of the said judgment.
The president of the civil society of Lubero-Centre welcomes the judgment rendered by the military tribunal. Kasereka Vahalwire believes that this verdict will serve as a lesson to other uncontrolled soldiers who tarnish the image of the Congolese army.
“We are very satisfied with the judgment which was rendered against this first class soldier, who shot Mumbere Kayenga Gerlance at point blank range on June 10. He was sentenced the death penalty. It was an educational hearing, which allowed us civilians to be in contact with the military courts. I believe that this is a way of discouraging other soldiers who continue to be guilty of similar acts throughout the region,” he insisted.
As a reminder, residents of Alimbongo and Ndoluma were victims at the beginning of the week of acts of looting by certain soldiers recently deployed in the region to face the M23 rebels.
In recent days, the latter have seized the towns of Kanyabayonga, Miriki, Kayna and Kirumba in the province of North Kivu.
The civil society denounces the behavior of soldiers described as « fugitives » in the Lubero territory.
It also denounces the behavior of certain soldiers who extort goods from displaced people, particularly their livestock.