Share

DRC army accused of executing PoWs

Kinshasa - Former rebels beaten last November by government and UN troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday accused the army of executing 10 prisoners of war.

"We are completely distressed, stunned, frustrated" to learn of "the summary execution of the prisoners of war by the DRC's military intelligence service in Kinshasa ... between the months of July and August 2014," political chief, Bertrand Bisimwa, of the Movement of March 23 (M23) said in a statement.

The government has denied the allegation.

The M23 statement listed 10 victims said to be former members of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), a largely ethnic Tutsi rebel movement that signed a peace deal with the government on 23 March 2009.

Like other rebel forces in the strife-wracked North Kivu province, ex-CNDP forces were integrated into the army, but these fighters protested that other aspects of the peace accord were not implemented by the Kinshasa government. In May 2012, they mutinied and formed M23.

Bisimwa charged that the 10 former CNDP members were among "about 100 military men" arrested in North Kivu "between May 2012 and August 2013 on the simple suspicion of belonging" to M23. Before their deaths, they suffered "atrocious torture and degrading treatment" in "the dungeons ... of the military intelligence services", he said.

Government spokesperson Lambert Mende "totally" denied the allegations to AFP, saying that "we no longer execute people in the Congo".

"If members of the government or the army have committed reprehensible acts, military and civilian justice is available," Mende added.

International Conference on the Great Lakes Region

However, M23 has turned instead for help to the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the Southern African Development Comunity (SADC), which are both large groupings of countries active in bids to settle the crisis between Kinshasa and the ex-rebels.

On 11 August, the movement protested that "only ... 31 members of M23" have been officially amnestied by President Joseph Kabila's regime, though 3 657 ex-rebels signed a commitment not to take up arms again.

M23 added that "dozens" of former fighters had been arrested on their return from abroad despite signing the undertaking. United Nations experts charge that during its insurgency, M23 was backed by neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda.

In the wake of the movement's defeat and peace agreements made last December, lawmakers in February passed a law granting amnesty for acts of insurgency, acts of war, and political offences.

The legislation specifically excluded amnesty for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
41% - 569 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
59% - 812 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.88
+0.3%
Rand - Pound
23.86
+0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.39
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.33
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+0.2%
Platinum
908.05
0.0%
Palladium
1,014.94
0.0%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE