The Congolese army has been fighting the M23 rebels, who are backed by neighbouring Rwanda, for two years. The BBC reported, quoting an army spokesman, that A military court convicted the soldiers of desertion.They abandoned their positions in the villages of Kisigi and Matembe.
After leaving their positions They stole goods from shops in the neighbouring village of Alimbongo.They were detained along with their wives, to whom they had entrusted the spoils. However, the women escaped punishment.
One soldier was sentenced to 10 years in prison, 25 of which were death sentences. One of the soldiers pleaded guilty and perhaps for this reason he was acquitted. The lawyer for those sentenced to death announced his appeal.
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It is worth noting that a military court sentenced eight soldiers last May on charges of desertion while fighting the rebels. They are hoping to overturn the ruling and are appealing it. The Congolese government has lifted a moratorium on the death penalty after 20 years. All this because the authorities wanted to get rid of the “traitors” in the army ranks.
It is worth noting that The rebels formed the M23 group in 2012. It is made up of those who left the ranks of the national army. The fighting lasted for about two years, but the conflict was stopped with the help of the United Nations. A ceasefire, demobilization of the rebels, amnesty and political rights for the fighters were agreed upon.
However, the peace did not last long. In 2021, the rebels decided to fight again on the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, He accused the government of failing to respect the agreement and marginalizing the Tutsi ethnic minority.
National Army He is seen as unprofessional and undisciplined. Soldiers complain of low pay and lack of equipment. The rebels are viewed very differently.
According to the BBC, more than 150,000 civilians have fled their homes in recent days, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region where 2.8 million people have already been displaced.
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