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Congo sentences 66 soldiers to death for cowardice and mutiny after they allegedly fled fighting with rebels
CBS News • • world
Key Points:
- A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo sentenced 66 soldiers to death for charges including cowardice, mutiny, and squandering munitions after a 12-day trial in North Kivu province.
- The trial aimed to boost discipline within the armed forces amid ongoing conflicts with rebel groups such as M23 and the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN).
- Soldiers were accused of fleeing from FRN fighters, highlighting ongoing issues of ill-discipline, poor pay, and inadequate equipment within the Congolese military.
- The death penalty was reinstated in March 2024 to combat treason, but human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned the practice due to concerns over unfair trials and politically motivated charges.
- The conflict in eastern Congo involves accusations against Rwanda for supporting M23 rebels, who have been reported by the UN to commit serious human rights abuses during their advances.
