A Congolese prosecutor on Monday demanded the death penalty for 25 individuals accused of belonging to the M23 rebel group, marking a dramatic escalation in a high-profile trial taking place in the capital.
A 20-year prison sentence was requested for a 26th defendant.
The Tutsi-led M23, which the Congolese government alleges is backed by Rwanda, has seized large portions of territory in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo since late 2021.
The trial, held in a military court, has seen only five of the 26 accused present, with the rest being tried in absentia.
The charges against them include war crimes, insurrection, and treason.
Among the most prominent figures implicated is Corneille Nangaa, a former head of the Congolese electoral commission.
He is accused of playing a key role in the formation of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), a rebel coalition including the M23.
Other high-profile M23 leaders, such as Bertrand Bisimwa and Sultani Makenga, are also named in the charges but are not among the five defendants in court.
Two of the accused admitted to being members of the AFC, citing injustice and discrimination as reasons for joining.
However, another defendant denied any involvement, claiming their arrest was based solely on their surname.
The defense is expected to present its case on Tuesday.
The Congolese government’s decision to seek the death penalty for the accused comes after lifting a moratorium on capital punishment in March.
This move, targeting military personnel accused of treason, has already resulted in death sentences for around 50 soldiers in the east of the country.
The M23 is just one of many armed groups operating in the volatile eastern region of the DRC, a legacy of the decades-long conflict that followed the fall of Mobutu Sese Seko.