VI. Measures taken by Congolese authorities
35. On 25 November 2012, following reports of mass rapes in and around Minova, Kalehe
territory, South Kivu province, the Head of the Congolese Land Forces, General François
Olenga, visited Minova where he met with senior FARDC officers and called for the army
to respect its code of good conduct and human dignity. 36. On 7 December 2012, the Senior Military Prosecutor’s office of South Kivu deployed a
military prosecutor to Minova. Eleven FARDC soldiers have been arrested to date and are
awaiting trial, although only two have been arrested on charges of rape and two on charges
of murder. A Joint Investigation Team, comprised of military magistrates from both North
Kivu and South Kivu, MONUSCO and NGO staff, travelled to Minova and surrounding
villages from 6 to 13 February 2013. On that occasion, military investigators took testimony
from several hundred victims, including a large number of victims of sexual violence. In
order to ensure that the alleged perpetrators are handed over to the judicial authorities,
military prosecutors are closely liaising with the provincial FARDC authorities.
37. At the end of March 2013, 10 senior officers were suspended in relation to the Minova
incidents pending investigations. The individuals, all FARDC unit commanders, including
the commanders of the 41 and 391 battalions, were to be put at the disposal of military
justice authorities. The deputy commanders of the 41 and 391 battalions were subsequently
suspended, thus bringing the total number of suspensions of senior officers to 12.