Democratic Republic of Congo: Consequences of deserting the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo, FARDC), including applicable sanctions (January 2006)
Corroborating sources indicated that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to replace the 1972 military justice code (l'ordonnance-loi no 72/060 du 25 septembre 1972) (Zaire 25 Sept. 1972; ECPM 14 Apr. 2005, 10) which governed offences committed by members of the armed forces (HRW Mar. 2005, 30), brought in a new military penal code in 2002 (ibid; Projet ARGO Oct. 2004, 17; ECPM 14 Apr. 2005, 11; Global Rights Aug. 2005, 35) by adopting Law no. 024/2002 of 18 November 2002 concerning the military penal code (Loi no 024/2002 du 18 novembre 2002 portant Code pénal militaire) (ibid.).
However, according to a report from a July 2004 joint mission to Kisangani by the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (Commissariat général aux réfugiés et apatrides, CGRA), the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides, OFPRA) and the Swiss Federal Office for Refugees (Office federal des réfugiés, ODR), penalties for desertion in the new military penal code are the same as those in the 1972 military justice code, only the section numbers have changed (Projet ARGO Oct. 2004, 17).
As in the 1972 justice code (Zaire 25 Sept. 1972), the new military penal code has distinct categories of desertion: simple desertion, desertion with conspiracy, desertion abroad, desertion to an armed gang and desertion to the enemy or in the presence of the enemy (ECPM 14 Apr. 2005, 33; Projet ARGO Oct. 2004, 17). In addition, under the new code, as it was in that of 1972, desertion in wartime or in exceptional circumstances is subject to capital punishment (ibid.; ECPM 14 Apr. 2005, 33; Zaire 25 Sept. 1972). However, in peacetime, sentences range from two months to 20 years of [translation] "penal servitude," depending on the category of desertion and the circumstances (ibid.; Projet ARGO Oct. 2004, 17).
The July 2004 joint mission report, quoting a Kisangani senior military prosecutor, points out an exception in which, by means of private [translation] "amnesty decree," a [translation] "soldier who deserted prior to July 2003" (when the country reunited) would not be prosecuted if he returned to the country today, [translation] "unless he had committed violent crimes or plotted a conspiracy" (Projet ARGO Oct. 2004, 17).
For more information on the different categories of desertion and the corresponding penalties (both in wartime and in peacetime), see the attached sections (409 to 425) of the ordinance-law no. 72/060 of 25 September 1972 concerning the implementation of a military justice code (l'ordonnance loi no 72/060 du 25 septembre 1972 portant institution d'un Code de justice militaire) (Zaire 25 Sept. 1972).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Ensemble contre la peine de mort (ECPM). 14 April 2005. Enquête: les "sans-voix" de République démocratique du Congo. <http://www.abolition.fr/Upload/documents/rdc%20rapport%2016-11-52.pdf> [Accessed 23 Jan. 2006].
Global Rights. August 2005. S.O.S. Justice. Quelle justice pour les populations vulnérables à l'Est de la RDC? Rapport d'évaluation du secteur de la justice au Nord et Sud Kivu, Maniema et Nord Katanga. <http://www.globalrights.org/site/DocServer/SOS_WebFinal_CoverTOC.pdf?docID=3777> [Accessed 24 Jan. 2006].
Human Rights Watch (HRW). March 2005. Vol. 17, No. 1(A). En quête de justice. Poursuivre les auteurs de violences sexuelles commises pendant la guerre au Congo. <http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/2005/hrw-cod-fr-07mar.pdf> [Accessed 24 Jan. 2006].
Projet ARGO. October 2004. République démocratique du Congo. Organisation judiciaire dans la province Orientale. Report from a joint mission to Kisangani by the Commissariat général aux réfugiés et apatrides (CGRA), the Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides (OFPRA) and the [Swiss] Office fédéral des réfugiés (ODR) in July 2004.
Zaire. 25 September 1972. "Des infractions et des peines applicables par les juridictions des forces armées." Excerpt from l'ordonnance-loi no 72/060 du 25 septembre 1972 portant institutions d'un Code de justice militaire.
Additional Sources Consulted
Publications: Africa Confidential, Africa Research Bulletin, L'Afrique des Grands lacs: Annuaire 2004-2005, Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent, Resource Centre country file.
Internet sites, including: AllAfrica.com, Amnesty International, BBC News, CIA World Factbook, European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI.net), Factiva, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch (HRW), IDP report of Norwegian Refugee Council, International Crisis Group (ICG), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Migration News, Relief Web, UNHCR, United Kingdom Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, United Nations Security Council, United States Department of State.
Attachment
Zaire. 25 September 1972. "Des infractions et des peines applicables par les juridictions des forces armées." Excerpt from l'ordonnance-loi no 72/060 du 25 septembre 1972 portant institutions d'un Code de justice militaire, livre troisième, article 388-425 [SECTION NUMBERS REVISED].1
1This attachment was updated May 2012 to include the relevant section of the military code. The citation was also revised to reflect this update.