66 Democratic Congolese soldiers who fled during fighting with rebels sentenced to death

The British BBC reported on the 10th (local time), citing local media, that 66 soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo) were sentenced to death on charges of deserting their positions and running away during a battle with rebels.

The military court in North Kivu Province, Democratic Congo, sentenced 66 of the 71 soldiers arrested on charges of leaving the camp and running away during a battle with the Front for National Reconstruction (FRN), a rebel alliance including M23, in the Walikale region on the 20th of last month to death on the 6th on charges of disobeying orders, defiance, and cowardice.

One other person was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and four others were found not guilty.

The Democratic Congolese Army stated that this trial was aimed at establishing military discipline among its soldiers.

The Democratic Congo government military has been conducting military operations against armed groups such as M23 for a long time, but the operations have been hampered by poor discipline and lack of organization within the military, the BBC reported.

Democratic Congo, which had previously suspended executions for 20 years, lifted the moratorium on executions in March 2024, citing the need to eliminate traitors within the military.

This decision received great criticism from human rights groups. However, the BBC added that there have been no cases of actual executions officially carried out since the moratorium on executions was lifted.

According to data compiled by French broadcaster RFI, at least 381 Democratic Congolese soldiers have been sentenced to death since 2025.

Last month, the BBC reported that 27 soldiers who were accused of withdrawing during combat with rebels were sentenced to death.