Despite a declaration in December 1999 by the Minister...

Despite a declaration in December 1999 by the Minister for Human Rights that the government was observing a moratorium on executions, a 14-year-old child soldier named Kasongo was executed within 30 minutes of his trial by the Cour d'ordre militaire (COM), Military Order Court. He and four other soldiers had been found guilty of murdering a driver. Those convicted by the COM can only appeal to the President for clemency but with execution taking place so soon after sentencing it is doubtful that the President had time to consider appeals.