Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo will begin the trial of at least 75 soldiers on Monday, accusing them of deserting their posts during the M23 rebel advance in South Kivu and committing acts of violence, including murder and looting, the military prosecutor’s office announced on Sunday.
After M23 rebels launch a major offensive, they successfully capture Goma, the biggest city in eastern Congo, on late January. United Nations has reported many human rights abuses, including summary executions, gang rape, and sexual slavery by M23 fighters, Congolese soldiers, and pro-government militias.
Congo has not offered a public remark about the criticism that has hit its troops while asking the UN to investigate “crimes perpetrated by the rebel M23 force and Rwanda’s government.” M23 has nothing to say against this, Kigali had nothing to claim support for these forces.
Despite a unilateral ceasefire declared, M23 forces continue their push south to Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. Last week, they captured Nyabibwe, a town 70 km (40 miles) north of Bukavu. The soldiers who are going to appear in court were arrested for having abandoned their positions when the town fell. Some of them were also arrested for rape, murder, looting, and inciting rebellion, and more arrests are expected.
Reports from civil society organizations say that the fleeing military killed at least 10 people – seven civilians who were drinking inside a bar in Kavumu, a town near Bukavu’s airport. There are also reports that rogue soldiers have also made cases of looting.
While the weekend saw limited clashes, sporadic fighting continued near Bukavu. Meanwhile, African leaders convened a regional summit urging all parties to engage in direct negotiations. Congo’s government acknowledged the summit’s resolutions but has not confirmed its next steps.