Congo Warloard sentenced to 12 years for slaughter of civilians

Germain Katanga, a former Congolese militia leader, was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison for war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Judges have considered that in 2003, Katanga planned the assault on the village of Bogoro, in the province of Ituri (northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo). More than 200 civilians, mostly women and children, perished at the hands of militants, who provided guns and machetes.

Nicknamed ” Simba ” Katanga was 24 at the time of the attack, and the judgment underlines its “expertise in the fight.” Although not directly involved in the slaughter, ” the victims were vulnerable and cruelly killed by the fact of belonging to Hema, who had resolved to remove the accused,” said the statement.

Katanga is a Lendu, the other Congolese community, and the incident occurred in the midst of inter ethnic hatred that left at least 50,000 dead in the African country. As the commander of the Patriotic Resistance Front of Ituri militia benefited from its logistical expertise and the ease with which weapons could proportionate. “Without their help and support, could not have Bogoro attack,” the ruling. Between 1999 and 2003, the town was the scene of bloody clash between Hema and Lendu, escaped machetes and bows and arrows, in addition to rifles.

Located between the town of Bunia, taken by the Union of Congolese Patriots (Hema) and neighboring Uganda, Bogoro inhabitants were surrounded and then persecuted or burned inside their homes. On paper, it was dismantling an encampment of the Union, under the command of Thomas Lubanga, a powerful commander Hema. In practice, only killed defenseless civilians. For lack of evidence, Katanga has been acquitted of charges of rape, sexual slavery, and used child soldiers. However, reports by the United Nations following the tragedy said the surviving women and children were raped themselves or enslaved.

Before being arrested in 2005 by the Congolese authorities, this former warlord joined the ranks of the regular army. Arrested for misbehavior, he was transferred in 2007 to host the ICC in The Hague. The judges have considered ” mitigating circumstances, only partly support the peace process back in your country, because you can not demonstrate an active participation.” In 2012, the ICC itself absolved Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, co Katanga, the slaughter of Bogoro. “While the crime occurred, the prosecution has not proved the charges against this defendant,” then said the room. Chui was released to embarrassment of the prosecution, as it was only the second case to reach the Court term. The first was that of Thomas Lubanga, who was sentenced in July 2012 to 14 years in prison for recruiting child soldiers in the conflict.

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Posted by Maleeha Tareen on May 25 2014. Filed under World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.