Court in the Republic of Congo sentences dozens of soldiers to death

A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo sentenced 66 soldiers to death on charges of cowardice, mutiny, and refusal to obey orders during fighting against rebels in North Kivu province. Four were acquitted and one was sentenced to ten years in prison.

A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo sentenced 66 soldiers to death on charges of cowardice, mutiny, and refusal to obey orders during combat against rebel groups in North Kivu province. The trial involved 71 soldiers, of whom four were acquitted and one received a ten-year prison sentence. The Congolese army explained that the trial aimed to improve discipline among forces that have been fighting armed groups and rebel organizations in the country's east for decades, including the FRN rebel coalition which includes the M23 group. The condemned soldiers were arrested on October 20 after being accused of abandoning their positions during clashes. The move was made possible after the Congolese government lifted a 20-year moratorium on the death penalty in March 2024, citing the need to remove 'traitors' from the military. Human rights organizations have criticized the step, but no official executions have been carried out so far. Since the beginning of 2025, at least 507 soldiers have been convicted, of whom 381 were sentenced to death, according to data from the French network RFI.