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. This action follows a recent government decision to lift a long-standing moratorium on the death penalty to address discipline issues within the army.
Why it matters
The mass sentencing highlights the severe instability and internal struggles within the Congolese military as it faces ongoing threats from armed groups like the M23.
The Congolese army has been fighting rebels for decades [Reuters] 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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