25 soldiers who were accused of "fleeing from the enemy" while fighting against M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been sentenced to death after a one-day trial, according to their lawyers.
The mineral-rich eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been shaken by armed group conflicts for around 30 years.
Since last week, the M23 rebel movement has taken over several cities along the northern front of the conflict, including the strategically important city of Kanyabayonga. The neighboring country of Rwanda has long been suspected of supporting the rebel movement.
In March last year, the Congolese government lifted the moratorium on the death penalty, which had been in place since 2003. The measure is specifically targeted at soldiers accused of treason.
