DRC tribunal sentences 25 soldiers to death for ‘fleeing the enemy’
Al JazeeraMilitary court in Butembo set up as part of crackdown on soldiers fleeing M23 rebels as fighting rages in the east. The Butembo military court in North Kivu province handed the sentences down on Wednesday, deeming them guilty of fleeing the enemy, dissipation of war munitions and violation of orders. ‘Weaken our military’ In early May, eight Congolese soldiers, including five officers, were sentenced to death in Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, for “cowardice” and “fleeing the enemy”. ‘Every officer is afraid’ Successive Congolese governments and UN peacekeeping missions have struggled to quell violence in the east, where more than 100 armed groups are fighting over land and minerals, including rich deposits of gold and coltan, essential for making mobile phones.
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23 Congolese soldiers face the death penalty or prison for alleged desertion or other crimes
Associated Press
A military court sentences 8 Congolese army soldiers to death for cowardice, other crimes
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