66 Soldiers Face Death Penalty in Eastern Congo After Court Rulings
A military tribunal in Walikale condemned troops for fleeing during clashes with rebel forces, a move the army says is meant to restore discipline.
By Ricardo Alvarez ·
The military conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has intensified with the recent imposition of capital punishment on a large group of active-duty personnel. At least 66 soldiers received death sentences from a military court in Walikale, located in North Kivu province. The tribunal also acquitted four of the 71 defendants and handed one soldier a ten-year prison term.
The convictions were issued for charges including cowardice, mutiny, and failure to follow orders. Local media reports indicate that the troops were arrested on October 20. Prosecutors accused them of abandoning their defensive positions and fleeing during engagements with fighters from the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation, a rebel coalition that includes the M23 group. The army stated that the trial was designed to improve discipline among units fighting in the region.
This ruling follows a similar case last month in which 27 soldiers were sentenced to death on comparable charges. Those troops reportedly withdrew from the frontline during clashes with rebels. The use of capital punishment has become a standard tool for military leadership since March 2024, when the government lifted a 20-year moratorium on the death penalty. Officials cited the need to remove traitors from the ranks and noted that the penalty would apply to those involved in armed groups, insurrections, treason, and war crimes.
Rights groups widely criticized the reinstatement of capital punishment, though no formal executions have taken place since the moratorium was lifted. According to figures compiled by the French broadcaster RFI, at least 507 soldiers have been convicted since the start of 2025. Of those, 381 received death sentences. The army has long faced criticism for disorganization and poor discipline, while soldiers have complained about low pay and inadequate equipment.
The region has experienced decades of instability as government forces battle various armed groups. The government has repeatedly accused neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, a claim denied by both Kigali and the rebel leadership. In a related development in October 2025, former President Joseph Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes and treason. He denied the accusations and has since been named the leader of the FRN.
The next step in the legal process for the 66 convicted soldiers is currently pending as they await the finalization of their sentences. The military court in Walikale will continue to oversee cases involving troops accused of desertion or combat failures in the eastern theater.
