On this Wednesday, July 26, 2023, a mobile hearing began in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for nearly 20 defendants, including officers of the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC). The charges against them include arms trafficking, violation of orders and collaboration with armed groups.
The military court, installed in Bunia, began the procedure of identification and instruction of the cases from the first day of the hearing. Among the defendants are 7 army officers, mainly colonels, as well as 4 policemen and 6 civilians. Note that among them, the only woman is Neema Budju, head of the Bakongolo district in Bunia, who is accused of leading a network of arms buying and selling.
Arms trafficking involving FARDC soldiers has become a growing concern in Ituri, despite recent convictions and disbarments. At least 7 army officers are accused of having sold 12 AK-47 type weapons and 9 PKM to the ADF rebel group and the “Chini ya Tuna” militiamen operating in Irumu territory. Some of them are also accused of having deployed elements in mining sites in Bandengaido, in violation of their regulations, in January 2023.
The commanders of the police and the PCR station in Mongbwalu are also implicated in the arms trafficking case. They would have met on their own initiative a commander of the Zaire militia in Pluto on March 24, 2023, which constitutes an offense qualified as “violation of instructions”.
Among the other defendants, Bedy Nakiri Jacques, a police recruit, will have to justify the loss of a weapon, while his colleague Atiaboli Amboko, chief brigadier, is accused of having joined the Zaire insurrectionary movement as a “supplier “.
When the judgment is pronounced, all defendants found guilty will see their status change from “defendant” to “convicted”, with possible radiation from the army for military defendants. However, they will benefit from all the means to defend themselves in court.
It should be recalled that in May 2022, eight FARDC soldiers, including four officers and three civilians, were sentenced to death by the military court for selling ammunition to armed groups. Convicted soldiers were discharged from the army.
The fight against arms trafficking and collaboration with armed groups remains a major challenge in the DRC