DR Congo sentences 66 soldiers to death for cowardice in rebel conflict

A military court in DR Congo sentenced 66 soldiers to death for cowardice, mutiny, and failure to obey orders, according to DW English. The soldiers were accused of abandoning their posts and fleeing clashes with the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN) rebels near the borders with Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi.

The trial involved 71 soldiers, of whom four were acquitted and one intelligence officer received a 10-year prison sentence, BBC World reported. The proceedings took place in Walikale, North Kivu province, a region long affected by armed conflict.

The DR Congo army stated that the trial aimed to reinforce discipline among troops engaged in ongoing battles against the FRN, a coalition that includes the March 23 Movement (M23) and Alliance River Congo (AFC). The FRN traces its origins to militias formed after the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

The army's campaign against rebel groups has been challenged by internal disorganization and poor discipline, with soldiers reportedly facing inadequate pay and equipment. The government has accused neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, a claim denied by both Rwanda and the rebel groups.

This sentencing follows a pattern, as last month, 27 soldiers were also sentenced to death on similar charges after withdrawing from the frontline, highlighting ongoing struggles within the Congolese military forces in eastern DR Congo.