Dem. Rep. of Congo court sentences 20 militiamen for crimes against humanity

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - A court in the Democratic Republic of Congo handed down sentences Wednesday ranging from 10 years to life to 20 members of the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO) militia group.

The Second Chamber of the Ituri Military Court at the Bunia Central Prison convicted four members for crimes against humanity through murder, participation in an insurrectional movement and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

Fourteen militiamen were convicted for similar offenses and sentenced to 20 years. Two members were sentenced to 10 years for participating in an insurrectional movement.

The court also ordered the defendants to pay $635,000 in damages to 76 victims.

In addition, the court acquitted two defendants in the case.

CODECO has been accused of being at the root of several cases of abuse in Ituri province since 2017, killing civilians, burning houses and looting property.

Earlier this week, an attack attributed to CODECO left dozens dead in Djugu territory, Ituri province.

The army recently announced that 729 members of armed groups were arrested since a “state of siege” was declared in May in the restive provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. They are being held at the Bunia Central Prison.