Ntabo Ntaberi, a former militia leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been sentenced to a life in jail for committing crimes against humanity.
Ntaberi was jailed for life by a military court for mass murder, rape, and enlisting 15 children into his militia.
“This verdict is a source of immense hope for the many victims of the conflicts in the DRC: their suffering has been heard and recognised,” said Leila Zerrougui, head of the UN’s peacekeeping mission in DR Congo.
Not less than 178 people testified against Ntaberi who is seen as one of the modern problems of the East African country.
Ntaberi led the Nduma Defense of Congo (NDC) to several operations in the country, from its base in the North Kivu region of the country.
DR Congo’s abundance of mineral resources, ethnicity and political divisions thrusted it into a bitter war that lasted at least five years between 1998 and 2003.
The Belgian colony is one of Africa’s most blessed countries, yet one of the most troubled in the continent too.
The victims also revealed their happiness at seeing the back of a man that has caused them a lot of pains.
“We are satisfied with this verdict, it is a strong signal to other warlords,” Kahindo Fatuma, a spokesman representing the victims, told AFP news agency. “The victims will be a little bit relieved.”