66 Soldiers sentenced to death over mutiny, cowardice

A military court in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) has sentenced 66 soldiers to death for offences including military revolt, cowardice in the face of the enemy and disobeying orders.

The soldiers were among 71 members of the Congolese armed forces who stood trial before the Goma Garrison Military Court in Walikale, North Kivu Province, in the country’s conflict-hit east.

Four soldiers were acquitted, while another, an intelligence officer, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The verdict was delivered on November 6 after 12 days of proceedings, according to Radio Okapi, a United Nations-backed Congolese broadcaster.

The case involved members of the 3415th Infantry Regiment of the Congolese army, who were arrested on October 20 following security incidents in the Walikale area.

The defendants faced charges including military revolt, abandonment of post, refusal to obey orders, violation of military instructions, dissipation of military ammunition and murder.

The proceedings were initially opened against 54 soldiers before 16 additional military personnel were brought into the case, bringing the number of defendants to 71.

According to Radio Okapi, the incidents under investigation included shootings on October 16 and 20 in Ngora, within the Waloa-Loanda grouping of Walikale territory, which resulted in the deaths of two soldiers and a civilian.

Prosecutors had sought the death penalty for 70 of the defendants and a 10-year prison term for the intelligence officer. The court, however, acquitted four soldiers and sentenced the officer to the requested prison term.

Major Dieudonne Kasereka, communications officer for the 34th Military Region, said the trial was part of efforts to strengthen discipline within the armed forces as government troops continued operations against armed groups in eastern DR Congo.

The country’s military has been battling several armed groups in the east, including the March 23 Movement (M23), which operates under the broader Alliance Fleuve Congo/Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (AFC/FRN) coalition.

The latest sentences come weeks after another 27 Congolese soldiers were reportedly sentenced to death for cowardice after allegedly withdrawing from frontline positions during fighting with rebel forces.

Reports citing Radio France Internationale (RFI) put the number of Congolese soldiers sentenced to death since 2025 at 381, reflecting the increasing use of capital punishment by military courts.

DR Congo lifted its moratorium on executions in March 2024, ending a suspension that had lasted for about two decades.

The government said the decision was intended to address treason within the military and tackle terrorism, armed rebellion and other serious security offences.

The move, however, attracted criticism from human rights organisations, which raised concerns about the fairness of the country’s judicial system and the risk of wrongful convictions.

Amnesty International has warned that the resumption of executions could endanger people sentenced after unfair trials or on politically motivated charges.

Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, said everyone, including members of the military and police, had a right to life and deserved protection.

The organisation has called on the Congolese government to halt plans to resume executions and establish an official moratorium with a view to abolishing the death penalty.