DR Congo Sentences 66 Soldiers to Death for Cowardice, Mutiny

A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has sentenced at least 66 soldiers to death after finding them guilty of offences including cowardice, mutiny and disobedience to orders.

The sentences followed the trial of 71 soldiers before a military court in Walikale, North Kivu Province, in the country’s conflict-affected eastern region. Four soldiers were acquitted, while another received a 10-year prison sentence.

The Congolese army said the trial was part of efforts to strengthen discipline within its ranks as government forces continue fighting armed groups in the east.

The soldiers were reportedly arrested on October 20 in Walikale after authorities accused them of abandoning their positions and fleeing during clashes with fighters belonging to the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN), a rebel coalition said to include the M23 group.

According to reports, the military authorities considered the soldiers’ alleged withdrawal from the frontline a serious breach of military discipline.

The Congolese armed forces have faced longstanding challenges, including poor organisation, weak command structures and disciplinary problems. Soldiers have also raised concerns about inadequate equipment and poor pay.

The latest convictions come after another 27 soldiers were reportedly sentenced to death last month over similar allegations of cowardice following their withdrawal during clashes with rebel forces.

DR Congo reinstated the death penalty in March 2024 after maintaining a moratorium on executions for approximately two decades. The government said the decision was intended to address treason within the military and strengthen the fight against armed groups.

Authorities also indicated that capital punishment could apply to individuals convicted of offences involving armed groups, insurrection, treason and war crimes.

The decision attracted criticism from human rights organisations, which raised concerns about the use of the death penalty and the possibility of abuses within the justice system.

Although the death penalty has been reinstated, no formal executions have reportedly been carried out since the moratorium was lifted.

Figures compiled by French broadcaster RFI indicate that since the beginning of 2025, at least 507 people have been convicted in cases involving capital punishment, with 381 receiving death sentences.

In October 2025, former Congolese President Joseph Kabila was also sentenced to death in absentia over charges that reportedly included war crimes and treason. Kabila denied the allegations but did not appear in court to defend himself.

The conflict in eastern DR Congo has persisted for decades, with government forces fighting several armed groups, including M23. The Congolese government has repeatedly accused neighbouring Rwanda of supporting the rebels, allegations denied by both Kigali and the M23 movement.