Name: Former Congolese rebel leader jailed in landmark French verdict
Uploaded: 2025-12-16T07:48:48.454Z
Duration: 1 min 8 s
Description: More than sixty victims and witnesses testified, many describing years of suffering endured by communities targeted during the operation.

More than sixty victims and witnesses testified, many describing years of suffering endured by communities targeted during the operation.

Paris

A French court has sentenced Roger Lumumba, a former Congolese minister and leader of the Rally for Congolese Democracy National Rebel Group, to 30 years in prison for complicity in crimes against humanity. The crimes occurred during a 2002-2003 military operation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where his forces were found responsible for widespread atrocities, including killings, torture, rape, and forced labor.

The trial was conducted under France's universal jurisdiction laws, enabling prosecution of serious international crimes committed abroad. Human rights advocates have described the verdict as a major step toward accountability for abuses during Congo's conflicts, with over 60 victims and witnesses testifying about the suffering endured by targeted communities.

Former Congolese rebel leader jailed in landmark French verdict

A French court has derived a landmark verdict in the fight against impunity for war crimes committed during the Democratic Republic of Congo's conflicts, sentencing former rebel leader Roger Lumumba to 30 years in prison. Lumumba, a former Congolese minister and head of the Rally for Congolese Democracy National Rebel Group, was found guilty of complicity in crimes against humanity committed during a 2002-2003 military operation in eastern Congo. Prosecutors said his forces were responsible for widespread atrocities, including killings, torture, rape, forced labor. The trial was conducted under France's universal jurisdiction laws, allowing national courts to prosecute serious international crimes committed abroad. Human rights advocates say the ruling marks a major step towards accountability for abuses committed during Congo's deadly conflicts. More than 60 victims and witnesses testified, many describing years of suffering endured by communities targeted during the operation.

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