A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has begun the trial of 124 army and police personnel, charged with “desertion and disobedience of orders during combat.”
The case is linked to the capture of the city of Uvira in South Kivu province in the country’s east by the Alliance of Forces for Change / March 23 Movement (M23) rebel coalition.
Military prosecutors accuse the defendants — 66 soldiers and 55 police officers — of abandoning their posts during the attack and retreating without authorization to the city of Kalemie, more than 360 kilometers away.
According to the prosecution, the trial aims to send a “disciplinary and deterrent message,” underscoring the importance of military discipline.
Defense lawyers dismissed the charges as “fabricated,” arguing that the withdrawal was a “tactical survival maneuver” intended to avoid heavier losses against a militarily superior enemy.
The trial is set to continue with a new hearing on the substance of the case on Monday, 22 December, amid ongoing security tensions in eastern DR Congo.
