At least 14 soldiers have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo and 500 others have been affected by a cholera outbreak in south-eastern Haut-Katanga Province, the army told local media.

Gen Eddy Kapend, commander of the 22nd military region, Mura military training centre, confirmed the deaths on Tuesday during a meeting with a delegation from the UN Children's Fund (Unicef) office in Lubumbashi.

"As of 72 hours ago, the number of patients receiving treatment had risen to exactly 144. We have recorded 14 deaths and have saved many patients who have returned to their ranks," Gen Kapend told the UN-sponsored Radio Okapi website.

He said that the outbreak was caused by unsanitary conditions at the military camp.

In July 2023, a cholera outbreak in Kalemie, in neighbouring Tanganyika province, left at least ten people dead.