A military court in Beni, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has sentenced 14 people – six Ugandans and eight Congolese – to death after convicting them of criminal association and aggravated theft linked to a wave of robberies in the region.
The ruling, delivered at the end of a week-long trial, detailed how the group operated between April and August 2025, targeting businesses ranging from shops to money transfer outlets.
Alongside the death penalty, the tribunal imposed 10-year prison terms on theft charges. Two minors arrested in connection with the case were cleared of wrongdoing.
Prosecutors pointed to the gang’s most high-profile attack on the Païdek cooperative, carried out overnight on 8–9 August.
Armed with weapons, the suspects made off with more than USD 100,000 (UGX 356 million) and 76 million Congolese francs, sparking panic within the local business community.
The suspects’ escape was short-lived. Security forces intercepted the Ugandan nationals as they attempted to cross back into Uganda, seizing USD 54,350 and 36 million Congolese francs in stolen funds.
Although executions have not been carried out in the DRC since 2003, the death penalty remains on the books. Military tribunals continue to pronounce such sentences, especially in cases of violent crime and armed group activity.
Authorities in Kinshasa have recently hinted at the possibility of resuming executions, arguing they could serve as a deterrent in the troubled east, where insurgencies and criminal gangs continue to thrive.
The judgment comes amid persistent insecurity in Beni Territory, where attacks linked to various armed actors — including the Ugandan-origin Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) — have displaced more than 500,000 people since January 2025.
Local leaders and civil society groups say the robberies have compounded an already fragile security situation, further undermining public confidence in state protection mechanisms.
