A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced 26 individuals, including the leader of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), Corneille Nangaa, to death for their involvement in armed groups and crimes against the state.
The trial, which began on July 24, found Nangaa and 20 others guilty of war crimes, insurrection, and treason in absentia, as they are currently on the run.
Five defendants present during the trial have five days to appeal the sentence.
The prosecution had sought death sentences for 25 defendants and a 20-year prison term for one defendant.
Nangaa, a former president of the DRC’s electoral commission, launched the AFC political-military movement in December, aiming to unite armed groups, political parties, and civil society against the government.
The court’s decision comes after the Congolese government lifted a moratorium on the death penalty in March, aiming to target military personnel accused of treason. The move has sparked criticism from human rights organizations.
The DRC has been plagued by conflict for over 30 years, with dozens of rebel groups active in the restive east.
The M23 armed group, accused of mass killings, is among those involved in the conflict. The government accuses neighboring Rwanda of backing the M23, a claim Rwanda denies.
