Seven soldiers jailed for crimes in eastern DR Congo
In the troubled eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, seven Congolese soldiers have received sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment for their involvement in various crimes. The military made this announcement on Tuesday, stating that a military court in Uvira had handed down these verdicts. Among the convicted individuals, there were six privates and a staff sergeant.
The court sentenced four of them to life imprisonment due to their involvement in murder, while two others received a 20-year sentence for attempted murder or armed robbery. Additionally, one individual was given a 10-year prison term for extortion. Notably, an eighth person was acquitted of the extortion charge.
The majority of these crimes occurred in South Kivu, which is one of the provinces in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This region is known for the presence of numerous active armed groups and pervasive violence. The incidents took place primarily in November 2022, and tragically, most of the victims were civilians, according to spokesperson Jeremie Meya of the 12th Rapid Response Brigade.
