DR Congo sentences 66 soldiers to death for being 'cowards'
Summary
A military court in Walikale, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, sentenced 66 soldiers to death for charges including cowardice, mutiny and disobeying orders. The army said the trial aimed to improve discipline as government forces fight armed groups in the region; no executions have been carried out since the death penalty was reinstated in 2024.Key Facts
- The court tried 71 soldiers in Walikale, North Kivu province.
- Four soldiers were acquitted, and one received a 10-year prison sentence.
- The soldiers were reportedly arrested on 20 October and accused of abandoning their positions during clashes with FRN fighters.
- The Front for the Refoundation of the Nation is a rebel coalition that includes the M23 group.
- The article says 27 soldiers received death sentences on similar charges the previous month.
- The Democratic Republic of Congo lifted a 20-year moratorium on the death penalty in March 2024.
- Figures compiled by French broadcaster RFI say at least 507 soldiers had been convicted since the start of 2025, including 381 death sentences.
- The article reports that no formal executions have taken place since the moratorium ended.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
