Congolese Colonel Sentenced to Death, Soldiers Convicted for Protest Deaths

A military court has delivered a significant verdict following the tragic deaths of over 50 people who were protesting the U.N. peacekeeping mission earlier this year. Col. Mike Mikombe, the former commander of the Republican Guard in the city of Goma, has been sentenced to Death. It’s important to note that Congo has not carried out the death penalty in more than two decades, essentially meaning it becomes a life sentence.

Additionally, three other soldiers from the same unit, all holding the rank of second-class soldiers, have received sentences of 10 years in prison. On the other hand, two officers, including Col. Donat Bawili, who was in charge of the Congolese armed forces regiment in Goma at the time, were acquitted.

Protest Ban and Tragic Events

In August, the mayor of Goma prohibited a protest organized by a group called Wazalendo. This sect’s supporters had planned to demonstrate against both the regional East African Community organization and the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo.

Pressure has been mounting on the U.N. mission to withdraw from Congo after more than two decades of involvement in the conflict-ridden country. Human Rights Watch, an advocacy group, reported that, before the planned protests could even take place, armed forces opened fire on Wazalendo demonstrators in the streets.

This development highlights the legal consequences for those involved in the tragic events surrounding the protest and serves as a significant moment in the country’s legal history, as it reevaluates its approach to the death penalty.

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