54 FARDC soldiers tried in an expedited trial in Walikale for murder and abandoning their post

Fifty-four soldiers from the FARDC’s 3415th Regiment have been on trial since October 26 before the Goma garrison military court, sitting in Walikale, North Kivu. They face charges including murder, abandoning their post, misappropriating ammunition and disobedience after incidents in Ntoto on October 20 left two people dead and two injured, including both soldiers and civilians. According to Major Dieudonné Kasereka, the clashes occurred as military police tried to stop soldiers from leaving the combat zone without authorization. A verdict is expected in early November.