DR Congo sentences 66 soldiers to death for being 'cowards'
A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced 66 soldiers to death for cowardice and mutiny during conflicts with rebel groups. The government is attempting to improve army discipline and remove perceived traitors following the lifting of a long-standing moratorium on the death penalty.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing instability in eastern DR Congo and the government's controversial shift toward capital punishment to address systemic military failures.
At least 66 soldiers have been sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo for cowardice, mutiny and refusing to obey orders, local media report.
The sentences followed a trial of 71 soldiers before a military court in Walikale, in North Kivu province, in eastern DR Congo. Four soldiers were acquitted, while another was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The army said the trial was intended to improve discipline among troops as they battle armed groups in eastern DR Congo.
The region has endured decades of conflict, with fighting continuing between government forces and the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN), a rebel coalition that includes the M23 group.
The soldiers were reportedly arrested on 20 October in Walikale, where they were accused of abandoning their positions and fleeing during clashes with FRN fighters.
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8 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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