A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has sentenced 66 soldiers to death, while four were acquitted and another received a ten-year prison sentence, following a trial for cowardice, mutiny, and disobedience. The trial was held on October 20 in Walikale, North Kivu province, as part of an effort to instill discipline among the DRC's troops battling armed groups in eastern DRC. The soldiers were accused of abandoning their posts and fleeing during clashes with rebels from the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN), a coalition including the M23 group, which has been engaged in decades-long conflict in the region. The army's campaign against armed groups, particularly the M23, has faced challenges due to poor discipline and disorganization within its ranks. Criticism over lack of professionalism and poor pay for soldiers persists. The DRC lifted a 20-year moratorium on the death penalty in March 2024, with capital punishment now applicable for traitors within the army, those involved in armed groups, insurrection, treason, and war crimes. However, no executions have been carried out since the moratorium was lifted. In October 2025, former Congolese President Joseph Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia on charges including war crimes and treason, a decision that has not been defended by him. He is now believed to be leading the FRN. For more news from Africa, visit BBCAfrica.com or follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, Facebook at BBC Africa, or Instagram at bbcafrica.