Twenty-five soldiers were sentenced to death on Wednesday after being accused of “fleeing the enemy” during a confrontation with M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The verdict was delivered following a one-day trial at the Butembo Garrison military court in North Kivu province. Thirty-one defendants, including 27 soldiers and four of their civilian wives, appeared.
This decision has sparked broad concerns about the fairness and transparency of the trial.
The soldiers were accused of various charges such as “fleeing the enemy”, misusing war supplies, disobeying orders, and theft, according to Jules Muvweko, a defence lawyer who spoke to AFP.
Following the proceedings, Muvweko stated that “25 soldiers, including two captains, have been given the death penalty” and noted that the defence team plans to file an appeal.
He said the other accused, including the four women, were acquitted for lack of evidence.
Since the end of last week, the M23 has taken several towns, including the strategic Kanyabayonga, which is seen as a gateway to the major commercial centres of Butembo and Beni.
The M23 have almost encircled Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, killing scores of people and displacing hundreds of thousands more.
The DRC accuses Rwanda of aiding the M23 rebel group, a claim Kigali denies.
DR Congo’s mineral-rich east has been besieged for over three decades by fighting between both local and foreign-based armed groups in an attempt to control the region’s vast resources.
In March of last year, the Congolese government decided to end the moratorium on the death penalty that had been in effect for 20 years. The move was primarily aimed at soldiers accused of treason, especially when the eastern part of the country faced an armed rebellion.
Earlier in May, eight Congolese soldiers, including five officers, were given the death penalty in Goma for charges of “cowardice” and “fleeing the enemy.”