Wetin we know as DR Congo sentence 66 soldiers to death

Dem don sentence at least 66 sojas to death for di Democratic Republic of Congo afta dem find dem guilty for cowardice, mutiny and refusing to obey orders, local media report.

Di sentences dey come afta di trial of 71 sojas bifor one military court for Walikale, for North Kivu province, for eastern DR Congo. Dem free four sojas and sentence anoda one to 10 years in prison.

Di army say di trial na to improve discipline among troops as dem dey battle armed groups in eastern DR Congo.

Di region don endure decades of conflict, as fighting continue between govment forces plus di Front for di Refoundation of di Nation (FRN), one rebel coalition wey include di M23 group.

According to tori, dem arrest di sojas on 20 October for Walikale, afta authorities accuse dem say dem abandon dia positions and run during clashes wit FRN fighters.

Di Congolese army campaign against armed groups, including di M23, for long don suffer sake of poor discipline, weak organisation and command problems within di armed forces.

Di govment don repeatedly accused neighbouring Rwanda say dem dey support M23, one accuse wey Kigali and di rebels don deny despite plenty evidence.

Di army don face continuous criticism ova dia lack of professionalism and disciplined, while sojas dey complain of poor pay plus inadequate equipment.

Last month, authorities bin sentence anoda 27 sojas to death on top similar charges of cowardice afta dem reportedly withdraw from di frontline during clashes wit rebels.

For March 2024, DR Congo lift one 20-year moratorium on di death penalty, as dem cite di need to remove "traitors" within di army.

Di govment tok say dem go also apply capital punishment to pipo wey get hand for armed groups, insurrection, and dos wey commit treason and war crimes.

Many rights groups bin condemn di decision to bring back di death penalty. Howeva, dem neva carry out any formal executions since dem lift di moratorium.

Since di beginning of 2025, dem don find at least 507 guilty, including 381 death sentences, according to figures wey di French broadcaster RFI gada.

For October 2025, dem sentence former Congolese President Joseph Kabila to death in absentia on charges wey include war crimes and treason.

E deny di accusations, but e no appear for court to defend imsef. Now, e be di FRN leader.