DR Congo soldiers sentenced to death for fleeing from M23 rebels

Twenty-five soldiers are sentenced for fleeing battles against the notorious M23 rebel group.

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The soldiers were also convicted of theft by a military tribunal as they stole goods from shops in a nearby village after abandoning their positions, an army spokesman said.

Four of the soldiers' wives were acquitted by the military court of receiving goods looted by their husbands.

In March, the government lifted a moratorium, in place for more than 20 years, on the death penalty being carried out after the justice minister cited the need to remove "traitors" from the army.

A lawyer for the soldiers, two of whom were captains, said he would appeal against the sentence, which was handed down on Wednesday by the military tribunal in DR Congo's North Kivu province.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c035lej04g6o

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