Two additional soldiers have been sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo after fleeing battles in the conflict-ridden North Kivu province, a military court announced on Friday.
The Congolese army has been engaged in a prolonged conflict against the Rwanda-backed M23 insurgency and other militias in its eastern borderlands. Last week, the rebels captured the strategic commune of Kanyabayonga.
Following the sentencing of 25 soldiers to death on Thursday, this ruling highlights the authorities’ intent to curb desertions that have weakened Congo’s position in the conflict.
“This trial serves a deterrent and educational purpose, showing soldiers that fleeing the battle lines exposes them to severe penalties rather than protecting them,” stated state magistrate Kahambu Muhasa Melissa.
The military tribunal revealed that one of the soldiers, Kakule Mupasula Raphael, deserted the front line in Kanyabayonga and was also found guilty of murdering an officer’s child. Raphael denied the charges and claimed he was not alone in fleeing.
“There were many of us who fled Kanyabayonga, including our commanders,” he told media, indicating plans to appeal the sentence.
Another soldier was accused of firing shots at an ambulance whose driver refused to transport him away from the battlefield. He pleaded guilty and requested leniency.
In February, Congo lifted a 20-year moratorium on the death penalty for crimes such as desertion and treason. Amnesty International has warned that this move puts many innocent people at risk of execution due to an ineffective justice system.
