A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has sentenced 66 soldiers to death for offences including cowardice, mutiny and refusal to obey orders, amid ongoing efforts by the military to tackle indiscipline within its ranks.
The sentences followed the trial of 71 members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) before a military court in Walikale, North Kivu Province.
The soldiers were arrested in separate incidents linked to intense fighting between government troops and rebel groups in the country’s eastern region, near its borders with Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
While 66 soldiers were handed death sentences, four others were acquitted and one was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Major Dieudonne Kasereka, head of communications for FARDC in the affected region, said the charges were necessary to strengthen discipline within the military, particularly in the conflict-hit North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
The latest sentences come as the Congolese army continues to battle armed groups in the eastern part of the country, where decades of conflict have been compounded by internal challenges within the military.
Among the groups fighting government forces is the M23 rebel movement, which is part of the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN) coalition. The army’s campaign against the rebels and other armed groups has repeatedly been undermined by poor discipline and disorganisation among its troops.
The military has also faced criticism over its lack of professionalism, while soldiers have complained about poor pay and inadequate equipment. These challenges have continued to affect its operations despite efforts by the government to strengthen military discipline.
The government has repeatedly accused neighbouring Rwanda of supporting M23, an allegation denied by Kigali and the rebels.
The latest development is also part of a series of death sentences handed down against soldiers accused of abandoning their duties during military operations.
Last month, another 27 soldiers were sentenced to death for cowardice after reportedly withdrawing from the frontline during clashes with rebels.
DR Congo’s use of the death penalty against military personnel followed the lifting of a 20-year moratorium on executions in March 2024.
The government said the decision was aimed at removing what it described as “traitors” within the army and would also apply to people involved in armed groups, insurrection, treason and war crimes.
The decision to reinstate capital punishment was widely criticised by human rights groups. However, no formal executions have been carried out since the moratorium was lifted.
According to figures compiled by French broadcaster RFI, at least 507 soldiers have been convicted since the beginning of 2025, including 381 who received death sentences.
The use of the death penalty has also extended to high-profile figures accused of involvement in the country’s conflict.
In October 2025, former Congolese President Joseph Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia on charges including war crimes and treason. He denied the allegations but did not appear in court to defend himself. He has since been named as the leader of the FRN.