The Congolese army has been fighting rebels for decades
At least 66 members of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s armed forces have received capital punishment for desertion, insubordination and failure to follow military directives, according to local media reports.
The verdicts were delivered by a military tribunal in Walikale, North Kivu province, after proceedings involving 71 personnel.
Four defendants were cleared of all charges, while one received a decade-long prison term.
Military authorities said the prosecution was aimed at restoring discipline within the ranks as government troops continue operations against insurgent factions in the country’s eastern territories.
The area has experienced prolonged instability, with state forces confronting the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN), an alliance of rebel factions that incorporates the M23 movement.
Reports indicate that the accused were detained on October 20 in Walikale after allegedly abandoning their assigned positions and retreating during confrontations with FRN combatants.
Efforts by Kinshasa to suppress armed rebellion, particularly the M23 insurgency, have been hampered by internal weaknesses, including poor coordination and disciplinary failures among military personnel.
The Congolese administration has consistently accused Rwanda of providing assistance to M23, claims rejected by Kigali and the insurgents despite substantial evidence pointing to such involvement.
The national military has also come under scrutiny for its operational shortcomings, while personnel have raised concerns about insufficient salaries and shortages of essential supplies.
A similar ruling was issued last month, when 27 troops received death sentences for alleged cowardice after abandoning frontline positions during battles with rebel forces.
In March 2024, authorities ended a two-decade suspension of capital punishment, arguing that the measure was necessary to deal with alleged traitors within the security services.
The reinstated penalty was extended to individuals accused of participating in insurgencies, engaging in treason, or committing war crimes.
The policy attracted strong opposition from international human rights organisations. Despite its restoration, however, no executions have officially taken place.
Statistics compiled by French broadcaster RFI indicate that at least 507 military personnel have been found guilty since January 2025, with 381 receiving death sentences.
Meanwhile, former Congolese leader Joseph Kabila was handed a death sentence in absentia in October 2025 over allegations that included treason and war crimes.
He rejected the accusations but failed to attend the proceedings. Kabila has subsequently been identified as the head of the FRN.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong