66 Congolese soldiers sentenced to death for desertion in 2017

Back in May 2017, a military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo sentenced 66 soldiers to death after convicting them of abandoning their posts during clashes with FRN rebels. The soldiers were accused of fleeing instead of engaging the rebel forces.

The verdict was delivered by a military tribunal in North Kivu province, where the FRN (Forces de Résistance Nationale) has been active. Death sentences in DRC military courts are not uncommon for desertion during active combat, though actual executions are rare—sentences are often commuted to life imprisonment.

Premium Times reported the story at the time citing military sources, but details on the specific unit, exact location of the clashes, and whether appeals were filed were not specified in the coverage.

For context: DRC has faced multiple armed rebellions in its eastern provinces for decades. Military desertion remains a persistent challenge for the FARDC (Congolese armed forces) operating in difficult terrain against numerous militia groups.

What this signals about military discipline and rebel pressure in eastern DRC remains relevant to understanding the region's ongoing instability.

SOURCE: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/924332-66-soldiers-sentenced-to-death-in-congo.html