Former militia leader bags life sentence for crimes against humanity in Congo

A former notorious militia leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ntabo Ntaberi has been sentenced to life in prison for crimes against humanity, including mass rape.

Ntaberi was convicted on Monday by a military court of murder, rape, sexual slavery and enlisting children under the age of 15, in a ruling that came at the end of a two-year trial that saw 178 victims testify.

“This verdict is a source of immense hope for the many victims of the conflicts in the DRC: their suffering has been heard and recognised,” said Leila Zerrougui, head of the UN’s peacekeeping mission in DR Congo.

READ ALSO: Islamist militants kill 30 civilians in DR Congo’s restive Kivu region

The United Nations said the ruling showed “impunity is not inevitable”.

Ntaberi, also known as Sheka, was one of the leaders of a militia group called Nduma Defense of Congo (NDC), which operated in the restive eastern province of North Kivu.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now