A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has sentenced 66 soldiers to death after convicting them of cowardice, mutiny and disobeying orders during fighting against rebel groups in the country’s eastern region.
The verdict was delivered by the Goma Garrison Military Court in Walikale, North Kivu Province, on Friday, November 6, 2026, following a trial involving 71 soldiers.
According to a statement from the Congolese army’s 34th Military Region, the soldiers were accused of abandoning their positions and fleeing during clashes with rebel fighters.
Four soldiers were acquitted, while a sergeant was sentenced to 10 years in prison after the court considered mitigating circumstances.
The soldiers belonged to the 3415th Regiment and were arrested on October 20, 2026, in Ngora village over offences allegedly committed in the Wanianga sector of Walikale territory.
Military authorities said the prosecution was part of efforts to restore discipline within the armed forces as government troops continue fighting armed groups in eastern Congo.
The latest sentences come amid continued insecurity in North Kivu and South Kivu, where Congolese government forces have been engaged in prolonged fighting with armed groups, including the M23-led rebel coalition.
In October, another 27 Congolese soldiers were reportedly sentenced to death for similar offences after allegedly withdrawing from frontline positions during clashes with rebels.
The DRC lifted a 20-year moratorium on the death penalty in March 2024, allowing capital punishment to be imposed again for serious offences, including military crimes.
The decision drew criticism from human rights organisations, which raised concerns over the use of capital punishment.
The latest court decision does not mean the soldiers have been executed, as the sentences are judicial punishments rather than confirmation that executions have been carried out.
