Corneille Nangaa Sentenced to Death in DR Congo: Court Seizes Assets and Imposes Heavy Fines

Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), which includes the M23 group, along with 25 others, primarily M23 leaders, were handed death sentences by the Kinshasa military court.

The convictions stemmed from charges of treason and forming an anti-government movement. Notably, five of the 26 defendants—Eric Nkuba Malembe, Nangaa Baseyane, Safari Bishori Luc, Nkangya Nyamacho, and Nicaise Samafu Makinu—were tried in closed sessions. All the defendants denied the charges.

The court further decreed the seizure of all assets belonging to Corneille Nangaa and his wife, Yvette Lubanda. Additionally, a fine of one billion US dollars was imposed on all the defendants for the extensive damage and losses inflicted upon DR Congo.

After the ruling, Nangaa expressed his thoughts in a message on X's website, calling the court's decision "a sign of the government's fear, indicating its impending collapse."

The defense team voiced concerns over the trial, arguing that they were not given sufficient time to prepare their clients' defenses during the two-week proceedings. One lawyer highlighted the lack of evidence against Baseane Nangaa, Corneille Nangaa's uncle, who claimed during the trial that his only connection was sharing the last name.

In response to the verdict, Constant Mutamba, the Minister of Justice of DR Congo, called the case a "historic day" for the millions affected by the war in Congo, attributing the conflict to provocation by Rwanda. He asserted that "all punishments will be carried out without exception, including the death penalty."