Dozens of runaway Congo soldiers face trial on violence charges

10/2/2025 6:08

Congo authorities will put at least 75

soldiers on trial on Monday for fleeing the advance of

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels into the eastern province of South Kivu

and for violence against civilians, including murder and

looting, the military prosecutor's office said on Sunday.



The United Nations has reported mass violations including

summary executions, gang rape and sexual slavery in the wake of

a major M23 advance in late January that lead to the capture of

east Democratic Republic of Congo's largest city of Goma.



M23 fighters, Congolese soldiers and pro-government militias

were all implicated, the U.N. human rights office found.



Congo has not commented on reports concerning its troops,

but called on the U.N. to investigate violations it blames on

M23 rebels and Rwanda.



Rwanda, which denies backing the group, has rejected any

responsibility. M23 rebels have not responded to requests for

comment.



Despite announcing a unilateral ceasefire, the Tutsi-led

rebels have continued to march south towards the capital of

South Kivu, Bukavu.



Last week, they seized control of the town of Nyabibwe, some

70 km (40 miles) north of the provincial capital.



The 75 soldiers facing trial were arrested for fleeing the

frontline after Nyabibwe's capture. They are accused of rape,

murder, looting and revolt, the military prosecutor's office

told Reuters.



Others have been arrested further south on the same charges

are expected to join them in the dock, the office said.



A civil society source in Kavumu, a town 35 km north of

Bukavu and home to the city's airport, said deserting soldiers

had killed 10 people, including seven sitting in a bar on Friday

evening.



"Acts of looting by our uncontrolled soldiers who have fled

in the face of the enemy are still being recorded," said another

civil society leader in the area, Leonidas Tabaro.



Provincial army spokesman Nestor Mavudisa said the rogue

soldiers would be punished and called on the population to

remain calm.



There did not appear to be a significant escalation in

fighting over the weekend. Clashes were reported in a national

park around 30 km from Bukavu, along with other sporadic

exchanges of fire in the area.



The well-equipped M23 is the latest in a long line of ethnic

Tutsi-led rebel movements to emerge in Congo's volatile east.

Congo's government says it is a Rwandan proxy, which the rebel

group and Rwanda deny.



In an attempt to diffuse the crisis, African leaders held an

unprecedented joint summit of Eastern and Southern African blocs

last week and urged all parties to hold direct talks.



Congo's government said on Sunday that it had taken note of

the decisions adopted during the summit.