Soldiers sentenced to death to enforce military discipline

13 servicemen in the DR Congo have been convicted on charges including murder and cowardice

Thirteen soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been sentenced to death in an effort to enforce military discipline, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing local officials. The convictions, handed down by a military tribunal in North Kivu province, included charges of murder, looting, and cowardice.

The ruling comes as government forces battle rebel groups in the volatile eastern regions of the country. The military has been struggling to maintain discipline among its troops as it faces persistent violence from insurgents. Army spokesperson Mak Hazukay said acts of indiscipline, including desertion and internal clashes, have enabled the rebels to make territorial gains.

“Some of the soldiers who are supposed to be fighting the enemy at the front have shown a kind of indiscipline. We had to organize this educational trial to set things right,” Hazukay told Reuters.

A total of 24 soldiers faced trial. Four received prison terms ranging from two to ten years, six were acquitted and one case is still under investigation.

Congolese military prosecutor Kabala Kabundi said the trials were meant “to help restore trust between the military and the population.” He added that those convicted pleaded not guilty and have five days to appeal their sentences.

This is not the first time DR Congo’s military has imposed harsh penalties. In July last year, a military court in Butembo sentenced 25 soldiers to death for desertion during clashes with rebels. Later the same month, 16 more soldiers were sentenced to death for fleeing combat in North Kivu province and six others in a separate case.

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DR Congo permits capital punishment, although it had observed a de facto moratorium on executions since 2003. The government lifted the moratorium in March 2024, leading to a rise in death sentences, particularly for military personnel. Justice Minister Rose Mutombo Kiese said at the time that the reinstatement of the death penalty was necessary to thwart gang-related crime, rid the country’s army of traitors, and stem the collaboration by locals with criminal insurgents.

Human rights groups have criticized the reinstatement of the death penalty, especially its application to military personnel. Critics argue that the practice does not address deeper issues within the armed forces, such as poor training, lack of resources, and corruption. Instead, they have been calling for reforms to strengthen the military’s effectiveness.