Hundreds of Congolese soldiers, clad in mismatched fatigues and civilian clothes, have faced court martial in recent weeks for alleged crimes including rape, murder, and desertion. Their testimonies have shed light on the deep fractures within an army that has lost more ground to the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels than ever before.
More than 300 soldiers have been tried so far, with over 260 receiving death sentences. A U.N. report seen by Reuters warns of a deteriorating command structure and rising risks of abuses against civilians. While President Félix Tshisekedi’s government has pledged to modernize the military, soldiers on the front lines remain underpaid, underequipped, and demoralized.
“The Rwandans have fearsome weapons. We resisted, but we were bombed heavily,” said one colonel, adding that even allied Burundian troops fled under attack.
Meanwhile, senior military officials have been accused of abandoning their posts. According to a U.N. memo, commanders fled by boat the night before Goma’s fall, leaving soldiers behind.
Tshisekedi has blamed the army’s top brass for “betraying” the country, but critics argue that his reliance on foreign troops, mercenaries, and poorly integrated militias has worsened instability. In Uvira, tensions between soldiers and militias have led to deadly clashes, further complicating the fight against M23.
