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7 soldiers convicted in Congo over massacre

A court in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday convicted seven soldiers for shooting people at close range who they accused of being militia members. 

The massacre was filmed in a video that was broadcast widely earlier this year, clearly depicting the soldiers shooting people, including young women at very close range. 

The sentencing comes as last month the UN Human Rights Council voted to establish an international inquiry. The UN and human rights groups have long criticised the Congolese government for not holding perpetrators of such crimes to account. 

Two army majors were sentenced to 20 years, another three soldiers were sentences for 15 years, Reuters reported. Two soldiers were sentenced to capital punishment in absentia. All seven men plan to appeal their sentences. 

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