A dozen soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), were convicted of sexual violence, a government official confirmed on Sunday.
The latest convictions are part of a string of 19 sentences that have been handed out by the state since the start of December.
The provincial justice minister, Christophe Ndibeshe, told the AFP that some of the soldiers were sentenced for crimes committed during violent acts committed in Sake in November 2012.
A second trial in Goma, has also been underway to investigate alleged war crimes and rape committed by government officers and rebel soldiers in the Minova region last year.
The DRC, in April this year, signed an accord with the UN to step up the fight against sexual abuse by armed groups and soldiers, which remains widespread in the eastern regions of the country.