DR Congo Sentences 25 Soldiers to Death for Fleeing M23 Rebels

In Summary

Twenty-five soldiers in the DRC have been sentenced to death for fleeing M23 rebels, following a swift military court trial.

The recent harsh verdicts have sparked fears of declining military morale and effectiveness.

M23 rebels, reportedly backed by Rwanda, continue to make significant territorial gains, exacerbating the conflict in the region.

KINSHASHA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO- Twenty-five soldiers accused of fleeing combat against the M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been sentenced to death by the Butembo military court in North Kivu province. The court handed down the sentences on Wednesday, convicting the soldiers of fleeing the enemy, dissipation of war munitions, and violation of orders.

“I find them guilty and sentence each of them to death,” declared Colonel Kabeya Ya Hanu, president of the military court.

The tribunal was convened near the recent clash sites between the Congolese army and M23 fighters, aiming to deter soldiers from abandoning the front line. Among the 31 defendants, 27 were soldiers, and four were their civilian wives. The women were acquitted, while one soldier received a 10-year jail term for robbery. The verdict for the last soldier remained unclear.

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."

Human rights activist Moise Hangi criticized the government's recent lift of a moratorium on the death penalty that had been in place since 2003. “This kind of decision will increasingly weaken our military and give more fear to those on all the front lines,” Hangi warned.

The M23 rebels, which the United Nations claims are backed by Rwanda, seized several towns on the northern front of the conflict last week, including the strategic town of Kanyabayonga. Rwanda has denied any involvement. The rebels’ advances are significant as Kanyabayonga is seen as a gateway to the major commercial centers of Butembo and Beni.

Jason Stearns, a former UN investigator and director of the Congo Research Group at New York University, highlighted the dire state of the Congolese military. “Many units have less than half the number of soldiers they are supposed to have due to desertions and casualties. Above all, there is a lack of accountability and morale,” he said.

The conflict in DRC’s mineral-rich east has been ongoing for three decades, exacerbated by armed groups vying for control over valuable resources. Over 2.8 million people have been displaced in North Kivu alone, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Despite the efforts of successive Congolese governments and UN peacekeeping missions, violence persists, fueled by both local and foreign-backed armed groups. The situation remains precarious as fear and distrust spread within the military ranks due to increasing arrests and harsh sentences.

"Even our greatest fighters have been put in prison for mere rumours," an unnamed military intelligence officer told Reuters. "Every officer who comes in is afraid."