A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has handed down death sentences to 66 soldiers convicted of cowardice, mutiny, and refusal to obey orders, according to local media.
The verdicts stem from a trial of 71 soldiers before a military court in Walikale, North Kivu province. Four were acquitted, while one received a 10-year prison sentence.
The army stated the trial aimed to strengthen discipline among troops engaged in combat against armed groups in eastern DR Congo.
The eastern region has been plagued by decades of conflict, with fighting ongoing between government forces and the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN), a coalition that includes the M23 group.
Soldiers were reportedly arrested on October 20 in Walikale, accused of abandoning their positions and fleeing during clashes with FRN fighters.
The Congolese army’s campaign against armed groups, including M23, has long suffered from poor discipline and organizational shortcomings within its ranks.
The government has repeatedly accused neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23, a charge denied by both Kigali and the rebels despite substantial evidence.
The army has faced persistent criticism regarding professionalism and discipline, while soldiers have complained of poor pay and inadequate equipment.
In a separate case last month, 27 additional soldiers were sentenced to death on similar cowardice charges after reportedly withdrawing from the frontline during rebel clashes.
In March 2024, DR Congo lifted a 20-year moratorium on the death penalty, citing the need to remove “traitors” within the army. The government stated capital punishment would also apply to those involved in armed groups, insurrection, treason, and war crimes.
Although rights groups widely criticized the decision to reinstate capital punishment, no formal executions have been carried out since the moratorium was lifted.
Since the beginning of 2025, at least 507 soldiers have been convicted, including 381 death sentences, according to figures compiled by French broadcaster RFI.
In October 2025, former Congolese President Joseph Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia on charges of war crimes and treason. He denied the accusations but failed to appear in court, and has since been named leader of the FRN.
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