Politics Africa

RDC: 90 people sentenced to death by the courts

by admin on | 2024-09-04 10:32:46

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The United Nations Office for Human Rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo revealed that from March to August 2024, 90 people were sentenced to death by the courts.

It was in March that the government of the RDC, at the request of President Félix Tshisekedi, announced that it has resumed the implementation of the death penalty, indicating that it will help prevent crimes that are treasonous to the country.

The implementation of this punishment was suspended during the administration of Joseph Kabila in 2003, only Rose Mutombo Kiese, the former Minister of Justice, explained that while the country is at war with the M23 group, it is necessary to enforce it again.

From 2003 to March 2024, courts in the DRC used to hand down the death penalty, but due to a decision to postpone its execution, it was replaced by life imprisonment.

The United Nations Human Rights Division, UNJHRO-DRC, has revealed that in the entire year 2023, 101 people will be sentenced to death, which will be replaced by life imprisonment.

Among them are 23 soldiers from the army of this country (FARDC), two policemen, 34 from different armed groups and 42 civilians.

 

Among the 90 sentenced between March and May 2024, there are 58 soldiers of this country, 25 accused of being part of the AFC coalition of political and military groups such as M23, six of the gang Forces du Progrès based on the UDPS party in power with one police officer.

UNJHRO-DRC said, "Since the death penalty was reinstated in March 2024, 90 people (all men) have been executed. It is a decision taken as part of the fight against terrorism and other serious crimes, and to punish soldiers convicted of treason while in operations against M23.”

For the AFC, five of the 25 convicted in July 2024 were arrested by the RDC government. They include Eric Nkuba who was arrested in Tanzania in early 2024 and was a special adviser to the coordinator of this forum, Corneille Nangaa.

Two months after the RDC government returned this sentence, eight soldiers including senior officers including those at the rank of colonel were sentenced for abandoning the battle in areas including Mushaki and Musaki in Masisi Territorial.

In early July 2024, the military court in Butembo sentenced 41 soldiers to this sentence after they fled from areas including Kanyabayonga, which were captured by M23 fighters. Convicted crimes include fleeing the enemy, murder, crimes against humanity and disarming.

Although the government of the RDC states that this punishment will help prevent serious crimes, international organizations do not understand it, because it proves that it deprives people of the right to live.

 

Marc N

www.andika.rw

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