Democratic Republic of Congo: Army Colonel Receives Death Sentence for Murdering Protesters in Anti-UN Demonstrations

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), an army colonel named Col Mike Mikombe has been sentenced to death for his involvement in the killing of over 50 demonstrators in August. Col Mikombe, who was the former commander of the elite Republican Guard in Goma city, was accused of ordering the firing upon anti-UN protesters. His lawyers have stated that they will appeal against the military court's decision. The August protests marked the highest number of deaths during a crackdown on demonstrations against UN peacekeepers in the eastern region of the DRC. The protesters were demanding the withdrawal of UN troops, blaming them for their failure to protect civilians who have been under attack from rebel groups for many years. The UN has a significant presence in the country, with nearly 18,000 personnel, making it the second-largest UN mission worldwide. The August protests were organized by a religious group known as Wazalendo (Patriots) to demand the removal of UN troops from the region. The protesters also wanted Governor Ndima Kongba, who had banned the demonstrations, to step down. Since then, the governor has been replaced. According to the state prosecutor, 56 civilians were killed during the demonstrations, resulting in international criticism. The security forces arrested over 150 people during the crackdown. The court heard that amid the chaotic scenes, troops opened fire on the protesters, allegedly acting under Col Mikombe's instruction. Col Mikombe claimed that he had been misled by an operational order that identified the sect members as associates of the M23 rebel group, which had gained control of large territories in North Kivu province the previous year. It should be noted that the death sentence is commonly given in the DRC; however, there have been no executions in over 20 years, and the sentences are typically commuted to life imprisonment. Col Mikombe stood trial alongside five other soldiers. Three of them received 10-year prison sentences, while the remaining two, including Col Mikombe's deputy, were acquitted. In a separate incident in July 2022, an anti-UN protest resulted in 15 deaths, including three peacekeepers. As President Félix Tshisekedi seeks re-election in December, he has called for the UN force to start leaving this year instead of the originally planned next year. Last year, an East African force was deployed to eastern DRC to assist the Congolese military in suppressing the violence, although it has also faced criticism for not doing enough to bring about stability.