A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo sentenced 26 individuals to death on Thursday 9 August 2024..
Among the convicted is Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo, the former head of the Independent Electoral Commission (CENI), alongside several of his associates.
The group faced charges of conspiring against the state, participating in an insurrection, and committing war crimes.
Nangaa, who currently leads the Congo River Alliance (AFC) political-military movement, has been accused of aligning with rebel groups, including the M23, which is infamous for its actions against the Congolese government.
Notably, 21 of the convicted, including Nangaa, remain at large, evading capture. Their lawyers have voiced concerns over the trial process, arguing that the defense was not given sufficient time to prepare.
This verdict comes in the wake of Congoโs reinstatement of the death penalty on March 15.
Nangaa’s political activities, particularly his coordination of the Alliance Fleuve Congo movement in Kenya last December, days before Congo’s presidential election, have drawn widespread attention, further complicating the political landscape in the region.
May their souls rest in peace