Kinshasa, November 8th, 2026 (CPA).– Sixty-six soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), prosecuted for cowardice, mutiny and disobedience in Walikale, a territory in North Kivu Province, eastern DRC, have been sentenced to death, according to a statement received by CPA on Saturday.
“The Goma Garrison Military Court, sitting as a court of first instance in criminal proceedings, sentenced 66 soldiers to death. A sergeant was sentenced to 10 years of principal imprisonment, with substantial mitigating circumstances, late on Friday evening, November 6th, in Walikale town centre. They were all prosecuted for cowardice, military mutiny and disobedience,” according to a statement from the 34th Military Region. “Four soldiers were acquitted, including a captain who served as Head of Intelligence of the 3415th Regiment. All these soldiers belonged to the 3415th Regiment and were arrested on October 20th, 2026 in Ngora village for offences committed in Ntonto village, in the Wanianga sector, Walikale territory, North Kivu Province,” the source added. According to the statement, the soldiers initially numbered 54 before being joined by 16 others, while additional arrests were subsequently made. Their trial, which was initially expected to last ten (10) days, eventually took two additional days. CPA/