A Congolese military court sentenced a top army general to 10 years imprisonment, after finding him guilty of war crimes on Friday.
General Jerome Kakwavu was found guilty on charges of rape, murder and torture. The crimes took place between 2003 and 2004, when he led the Armed Forces of the Congolese People (FAPC), a militia that was fighting in the northeastern region of the country.
Kakwavu was appointed into the military as an army general in December 2004 by presidential decree, but was arrest shortly after his appointment.
The court ruled that he had failed to take "necessary measures" to prevent and stop "war crimes by murder ... committed by men under his command."
His sentencing means that Kakwavu is now the the highest ranking national army officer to be convicted for war crimes in the country.
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