7 Congo soldiers who ran away from M23 militia gets death sentence for being coward

Seven members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) were given the death penalty by a garrison military court after they admitted to timidity in the presence of the enemy.

On February 9, 2022, the Congo Republican Guard troops were caught in Kamuronza, Sake, and Masisi territory. They had just gotten away from a fight with the M23 rebels.

According to reports, the soldiers, identified as Jonathan Mosazi Mondomo, Rodriguez Mayiza Mikoki, Tonton Koloti, Christian Kayema Munanga, Gregoire Mbutene, Juiour Ndiwa Mawoka, and Ancelme Bangamwabo Mudatinya, escaped the combat area in the direction of Sake town while firing. This purportedly sparked panic among thousands of civilians, who fled their homes and headed towards Goma and Minova.

After seeing some FARDC soldiers try to escape as well, the civilians who were also trying to escape the fighting between the FARDC and M23 began to worry that the M23 rebels might enter Sake. Four civilians were hurt, and two died as a result of the incident.

The seven soldiers were charged with stupidity, killing, assault with a deadly weapon, and dissipation of war weaponry in violation of Article 57 of the military penal code.

The seven soldiers were charged with stupidity, killing, assault with a deadly weapon, and dissipation of war weaponry in violation of Article 57 of the military penal code.

The seven admitted wrongdoing to the charges, and Maj. Lazare Amusini's court convicted them to death. Over 170 soldiers left the Bunagana border in June 2022 and escaped to the Ugandan side of the Kisoro district.

Over 170 soldiers left the Bunagana border in June 2022 and escaped to the Ugandan side of the Kisoro district. According to FARDC, the area has not yet been retaken.

While both Rwanda and the rebels vehemently deny it, the DR Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting the rebels. According to M23, it is constantly battling corrupt, xenophobic, and discriminatory leadership in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Since a long time ago, Rwanda has criticized the Congolese government for neglecting to disarm Hutu rebels, some of whom were responsible for the genocide in Rwanda in 1994.