2 Soldiers Convicted Of Rape In DRC

The mass trial had a total of 39 accused soldiers.

Lawyers of the victims called the ruling an ‘insult’ as the remaining men were convicted of lesser crimes.

The United Nations says that more than 135 women and girls were raped in Minova after the army entered the town in November 2012.

Most of the accused were low ranking soldiers.

Victims during the trial claimed that the soldiers who raped them were not among the 39 leading the lawyers to say that future victims of rape would be discouraged of the legal process.

A human rights activist said that the investigations were done in a shoddy manner and did not allow the inquiry to gather enough evidence.

According to a UN report, at least 102 women and 33 girls were victims of rape or other acts of sexual violence by government troops in the market town, south of Goma.

The incident happened when M23 rebels took control of Goma and thousands of soldiers retreated to the town of Minova to the south.

Congolese soldiers told the BBC that they were "angry and humiliated", and that they had been ordered by their superiors to begin raping women.

The trial began in November 2013 after months of international pressure.

The UN had threatened to stop funding army units suspected of committing the crimes.

The M23 has since been defeated but several other armed groups operate in eastern DR Congo.

By Beth Nyaga

Source: BBC News