In a stark move to tighten discipline, a military court in Walikale, North Kivu, sentenced 66 soldiers to death for acts of cowardice, mutiny and refusal to obey orders. The trial, which began with 71 defendants, also saw four soldiers acquitted and one receiving a 10‑year prison term.
The soldiers were arrested on 20 October after allegedly abandoning their posts during clashes with the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN), a rebel coalition that includes the M23 group. The army says the harsh penalties are intended to deter future desertions amid ongoing fighting in eastern Congo.
DR Congo lifted a 20‑year moratorium on the death penalty in March 2024, citing the need to root out “traitors” within the armed forces. The government has stated that capital punishment will also apply to those involved in armed groups, insurrection, treason and war crimes.
Since the moratorium’s end, at least 507 soldiers have been convicted, with 381 death sentences recorded, according to French broadcaster RFI. The latest wave of executions follows a previous sentencing of 27 soldiers last month on similar charges.
Human rights organisations have condemned the reinstatement of the death penalty, noting that no executions have yet taken place since the policy change. Critics argue that the measures may exacerbate tensions and undermine efforts to professionalise the army, which has long struggled with poor pay, inadequate equipment and low morale.
Source: BBC World
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