After pleading guilty to cowardice in front of the enemy, a garrison military court sentenced seven commandos of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) to death.
The Republican Guard troops were apprehended after fleeing a violent encounter with the M23 rebels on February 9, 2022, in Kamuronza, Sake, Masisi region.
The soldiers, identified as Jonathan Mosazi Mondomo, Rodriguez Mayiza Mikoki, Tonton Koloti, Christian Kayema Munanga, Gregoire Mbutene Juiour Ndiwa Mawoka, and Ancelme Bangamwabo Mudatinya, allegedly fled the fighting zone towards Sake town while shooting, causing panic among thousands of civilians who fled to Goma, Minova, and Mubambiro towns.
After seeing several FARDC troops fleeing the battles between the FARDC and M23, refugees escaping the skirmishes feared an M23 infiltration into Sake. Two bystanders were killed and four were injured in the process.
On Saturday evening, February 11, the seven soldiers accused with cowardice, murder, aggravated assault, and dispersion of military ammunition appeared before the public military court sitting at the Congolese National Police Station in Sake, Masisi area.
The seven pled guilty to the charges and were condemned to death by a court presided over by Maj Lazare Amusini.
Over 170 troops abandoned the Bunagana border and fled to the Ugandan side of the Kisoro area in June 2022, and M23 insurgents emerged and took it a few hours later. FARDC claims it has yet to retake the region.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting the rebels, which Rwanda and the rebels fiercely deny.
M23 claims to be opposing the corrupt, xenophobic, and discriminatory government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
For many years, Rwanda has chastised Congolese authorities for failing to disarm Hutu rebels, some of whom were involved in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.