The Military Court of the Democratic Republic of Congo sitting in Gombe in the capital Kinshasa issued its verdict on Thursday, August 8. Congolese authorities also intend to refer the case to international jurisdictions in order to obtain the extradition of the former president of the CENI (Independent National Electoral Commission) who is now the head of the Congo River Alliance, a political-military movement to which the M23, an armed group that is constantly reclaiming areas in North Kivu in eastern Congo, is affiliated. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Corneille Nangaa and his co-defendants were sentenced to death in absentia in all. They were found guilty of war crimes, participation in an insurrectional movement and treason.

It is the Minister of State for Justice, Constant Mutamba, who announced this decision after the ruling was announced. He stated that the Congolese government would cooperate with other partner states to facilitate the extradition of the convicts.

« Ultimately, we will ensure the strict implementation of all sentences handed down by the Gombe Military Court. For those who find themselves on the run, including Mr. Corneille Nangaa and his cronies, we will issue international arrest warrants to apprehend them. We will cooperate with certain countries with which we have judicial cooperation agreements so that, wherever they are, since they have now been convicted by the courts, they are apprehended, arrested and immediately extradited to the DRC to serve their sentences, » he said.

Congolese authorities also intend to seize the assets of those concerned. According to Minister Mutamba’s announcement, « all their assets will be confiscated in accordance with the judgments rendered and they will be integrated into the assets of the Congolese State. »

A total of 26 individuals were punished. Only 5 appeared before the Military Court. Congolese authorities say that the convicts have the possibility of appealing the ruling.