2 DR Congo army officers killed by drunken colleague

KIGALI, Rwanda

Two Democratic Republic of Congo military officers were shot dead by a drunken colleague in Mutwanga in North Kivu province, the army confirmed Wednesday.

“An errant soldier shot and killed his superiors at the rank of captain and lieutenant on Tuesday evening in Mutwanga [in Ruwenzori sector],” spokesman for Sokola 1 Operations, Lt. Anthony Mualushayi, told reporters.

The soldier first shot at a captain before turning his gun on a second colleague who wanted to intervene, said Mualushayi.

The shootings left another person seriously injured, according to Bernard Muke, vice-president of the Ruwenzori civil society group.

The killings came after a military court in North Kivu sentenced two military officers to life in prison for fist-fighting on Tuesday.

A military court in Goma convicted Maj. Rimenze Kangingo Bisimwa and Capt. Paulin Mukando Muzito for “assault, battery, and violation of the instructions under the state of siege.”

The army said the sentences would send a strong signal to troops to behave in an exemplary manner.