10.11 UN Welcomes Sentencing Former Militia Commander in DRC

MOSCOW, November 10 (RIA Novosti) - The United Nations has welcomed the sentencing of the former militia chief in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a step to support DRC's justice system, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in DRC (MONUSCO) Martin Kobler said.

"I applaud the DRC judiciary authorities' resolve to effectively fight impunity," Kobler said in a press release Sunday.

"MONUSCO will continue to support the DRC justice system in its efforts to implement a zero tolerance policy for the worst forms of violence committed against civilians in times of conflict," he continued.

On November 7, Jerome Kakwaku was sentenced by the DRC Military Court to 10-year imprisonment for war crimes committed in the Ituri district by the Congolese armed forces (FAPC) under Kakwaku's leadership between 2003 and 2005.

According to the press release, Kakwaku was accused of "arbitrary execution, rape, arbitrary arrest, torture, and illegal detention". He was found guilty of massacres in Kobu and Jicho forest in 2003.

The press release stated Kakwaku was one of 5 FAPC's senior officers accused of rape.