### Military convictions in the DRC: the stake of a fragile discipline
In the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, 55 soldiers from the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) are sentenced to death for fled the attacks by the M23 group, revealing a disturbing and complex facet of conflict management in the country. This decision, taken by a military court in Butembo, does not only raise questions about the effectiveness of the Congolese army, but also questions the societal and geopolitical implications of a country already plagued by decades of violence.
Beyond the sanction, it is a reflection on military psychology that emerges: what is soldiers to abandon their posts? The deterioration of morale, linked to a lack of resources and training, could be one of the factors explaining these desertions. The DRC’s response, which consists in raging by extreme sentences, could paradoxically exacerbate the cycle of violence by inciting other soldiers to flee rather than compete a certain death.
Like certain modern armies that promote the reinstatement of deserters, the DRC may have to consider alternatives to this punitive approach. The necessary evolution of its military strategy could not only strengthen the cohesion of troops, but also pave the way for more human management of conflicts, essential for building lasting peace. Right now critical, the gaze turns to the Congo to see how these decisions will influence the future of its people and the region.