66 soldiers are sentenced to death for being 'cowards' in DR Congo

Published: 14:30 EST, 10 November 2026 | Updated: 14:36 EST, 10 November 2026 At least 66 soldiers have been sentenced to death for cowardice in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to local media.Trials were held for 71 soldiers at a military court in Walikale in the North Kivu province.Four were acquitted and one soldier was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while the rest were sentenced to death.The army said the trial was intended to improve military discipline as they continue to battle armed troops in eastern DR Congo.The region has been in conflict for decades, with the DR Congo military fighting an insurgency in the region led by the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN), a rebel coalition that includes the Rwanda-backed M23 group.Troops have been convicted of offences including cowardice, mutiny and disobedience, the national media agency reported.The army has been criticised for a lack of professionalism and discipline, while soldiers have complained of poor pay and ineffective equipment, BBC News reported.The army said the trial was intended to improve military discipline as they continue to battle armed troops in eastern DR CongoLast month, 27 soldiers were sentenced to death on similar charges of cowardice after allegedly withdrawing from the front line.The US has been trying to broker a peace deal in the country since last year, as the Trump administration hopes better security could allow American firms to mine the country's mineral deposits. Two years ago, the country lifted a 20-year ban on the death penalty, in order for the government to remove 'traitors' from its military.No formal executions have been carried out since the ban was lifted but 381 soldiers are facing the penalty.In September 2025, former Congolese President Joseph Kabila was sentenced to death on charges including war crimes and treason. He denied the accusations but did not appear in court to defend himself. He has since been named as the FRN's leader.