DR Congo military court condemns 66 soldiers to death for cowardice

The verdict came down in Walikale, in eastern DR Congo's North Kivu province, where 71 soldiers stood before a military court. At least 66 were sentenced to death, four were acquitted and one received 10 years in prison. The charges: cowardice, mutiny and refusing to obey orders, according to local media reports.

The troops were arrested on 20 October in Walikale, accused of abandoning their positions and fleeing during clashes with fighters from the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation, a rebel coalition that includes M23. The army says the trial is meant to tighten discipline among troops battling armed groups in the east. Kinshasa has repeatedly accused neighbouring Rwanda of backing M23, an allegation both Kigali and the rebels deny.

It isn't an isolated round. Last month, another 27 soldiers were sentenced to death on similar cowardice charges after reportedly withdrawing from the frontline. DR Congo lifted a 20-year moratorium on the death penalty in March 2024, with the government saying it needed to clear out traitors inside the army and that capital punishment would also cover insurrection, treason and war crimes. Rights groups widely criticised the move, and no formal executions have been carried out since the moratorium ended.

The tally keeps growing. Since the start of 2025, at least 507 soldiers have been convicted, including 381 death sentences, according to figures compiled by French broadcaster RFI. Soldiers have complained of poor pay and inadequate equipment, while the army has faced persistent criticism over discipline and professionalism. In October 2025, former Congolese president Joseph Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia on charges including war crimes and treason; he denied the accusations and did not appear in court to defend himself.