Congo court sentences 66 soldiers to death over cowardice
Four of more than 70 defendants were acquitted and one was jailed for 10 years, the UN's Radio Okapi reported.
A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo handed death sentences to 66 soldiers, Turkey's state-run news agency Anadolu Agency reported on Sunday.
The proceedings took place at the Goma Garrison Military Court in North Kivu province and involved more than 70 soldiers.
Four defendants were acquitted, and one soldier received a 10-year prison term, the UN's Radio Okapi reported.
The court found the defendants guilty of mutiny, disobeying orders and cowardice in the face of the enemy, the report said.
The convicted men belong to the 3415th regiment of the Congolese army.
They were reportedly arrested on Oct. 20 in Walikale territory, where they allegedly committed the offences.
The army said the trial was partly intended to reinforce discipline in its ranks during a security crisis in eastern Congo.
In October, a military court in Congo sentenced 27 soldiers to death for cowardice after they withdrew from the front line in fighting against the AFC/M23 rebels.
The trial came amid continued clashes in eastern Congo between the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN), a rebel coalition that includes the M23, and government forces, according to local sources.
Eastern Congo has experienced years of armed conflict involving the M23 and other rebel groups, and the army has struggled to contain them.
