DRC Military Court Tries 124 Soldiers and Police Officers for Alleged Desertion After Uvira’s Fall

Kalemie, DRC - December 19, 2025

The Kalemie Military Court on Friday opened proceedings against 124 soldiers and police officers accused of desertion following the capture of Uvira by the AFC/M23 coalition.

According to court documents, the defendants are charged with abandoning their posts during fighting that led to the takeover of the city. The group comprises 68 members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and 56 police officers, with 66 defendants already formally identified.

Military prosecutors allege that, as AFC/M23 forces advanced, elements of the FARDC, allied Wazalendo, the national police, and Burundian troops engaged in combat, after which some security personnel withdrew or fled. Several crossed into Burundi, while others moved toward areas not under AFC/M23 control, including Kalemie.

Those who arrived in Kalemie were arrested and brought before the military court to answer charges related to desertion and misconduct.

Presiding judge Lt. Col. Désiré Dionda Mukolee, President of the Kalemie Military Court, said the trial seeks to sanction failures within the security forces, citing weaknesses and disregard for command guidance that he said contributed to repeated AFC/M23 advances.

“This process is intended to restore discipline, order, and proper conduct within the military and security services,” Lt. Col. Mukolee stated, adding that accountability measures are necessary to “put things in order.”

The military prosecution further argued that the actions attributed to the accused violated military law and professional codes governing the conduct of soldiers and police officers.

The case unfolds amid heightened scrutiny of the DRC’s security response in eastern provinces, where renewed fighting has placed sustained pressure on government forces and civilian populations.