Ministre de l’Administration du Territoire, Ordre public, Décentralisation, Affaires coutumières, Coopération Interprovinciale et Régionale et Relations avec l’Assemblée Provinciale. He is a general who never ceased to show absolute loyalty and allegiance to Kabila. Its principal tasks are to provide security in key areas, such as the South Kivu and North Kivu in the east, and to assist the government in reconstruction. A decision on which factions were to name chiefs of staff and military regional commanders was announced on 19 August 2003 as the first move in military reform, superimposed on top of the various groups of fighters, government and former rebels. The International Crisis Group says that 'by 30 August [2007] Nkunda's troops had left the mixed brigades and controlled a large part of the Masisi and Rutshuru territories' (of North Kivu). 2, 1995, pp. [30], On 11 June 1975 several military officers were arrested in what became known as the coup monté et manqué. North Korea and Tanzania also provided assistance with training. Jane's data from 2002 appears inaccurate; there is at least one ammunition plant in Katanga.[96]. Alliances sometimes changed dramatically over the course of the wars. Some non-integrated brigades have only 500 men (and are thus nothing more than a small battalion) whereas some battalions may not even have the size of a normal company (over a 100 men). See also U.S. State Department, 'Au cours du mois d'avril 2007, des soldats FARDC de la 6ème Brigade Intégrée basée à Jiba -60 km au Nord-Est de Bunia, Ituri-, ont été responsables de 14 cas de viol et de plusieurs cas de mauvais traitements à l'égard de la population locale. Joseph Kabila meets with security council, Commanders of defense zones and military zones as of September 2014, "List of general officers appointed to the heads of military units", Général Etumba reconduit chef d’Etat major général, Fardc: Joseph Kabila names Lieutenant-General Celestin Mbala Munsense General Staff, General Célestin Mbala renewed Chief of Staff of the FARDC, "Report on the DRC SSR Roundtable talks: Kinshasa, 25–26 February 2008", "monuc.org: FARDC troops estimated at 100,000, says EUSEC ::: 20/03/2006", Opportunities and Constraints for the Disarmament and Repatriation of Foreign Armed Groups in the DRC, https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-congo-democratic-un/girls-as-young-as-six-raped-by-congolese-soldiers-in-minova-u-n-idUKBRE9470GO20130508, AFP: Ukraine to supply tanks, other weapons to DR.Congo, Ukraine to supply a total of 50 T-64BV1 main battle tanks to Democratic Republic of Congo, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) and the Reform of the Army, "La Garde Républicaine : une épée de Damoclès sur l'alternance démocratique en RDC – JJ Wondo –", "MONUSCO Facts and Figures – United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo", "EU security sector reform mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo", Over 1800 FDLR armed rebels surrender to MONUSCO in 2010, Monthly Human Rights Assessment: April 2007, Issue Paper: Zaire: The Balance of Power in the Regions, Fardc et Police Nationale: la liste complète d'Officiers nommés, "Fearless Fighters and Submissive Wives: Negotiating Identity among Women Soldiers in the Congo (DRC)", 'Soldiers who rape, commanders who condone: Sexual violence and military reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,', Mapping Conflict Motives in the Eastern DRC, National Union for Total Independence of Angola, National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Armed_Forces_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo&oldid=980455267, CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown, Articles needing additional references from December 2019, All articles needing additional references, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2007, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Jane's data from 2002 appears inaccurate; there is at least one ammunition plant in Katanga.[77]. John W. Turner, 'A Continent Ablaze: The Insurgency Wars in Africa 1960 to the Present,' Arms and Armour Press, London, 1998, This page was last edited on 26 September 2020, at 16:36. This was then superseded by provisions in the 2006 Constitution, articles 187 to 192. Deprived of diplomatic and popular support, despite its weight on the institutions of the DRC, the withdrawal of Joseph Kabila from power made him lose a certain political legitimacy. General Mbala is an ex-FAZ trained at the Kananga Officer Training School (EFO). Following the first 18 integrated brigades, the second goal is the formation of a ready reaction force of two to three brigades, and finally, by 2010 when MONUC is anticipated to have withdrawn, the creation of a Main Defence Force of three divisions. The decision caused consternation among the officer corps, as the army had been apolitical (and even anti-political) since before independence. This ex-FAZ ngbandi evolved in the DSP then in the MLC of Jean-Pierre Bemba, is more in the camp of the Republican general officers, despite the confidence he has gained from Kabila in recent years. Kazimoto was Joseph Kabila’s logistics assistant when the latter was chief of staff of the land force. He will assist the new commander of this region, the economic lung of the DRC, Major General Smith Gihanga. This unit, led at the time by the late General Joseph Nsau, had rallied the AFDL during the capture of Lubumbashi. In the AFDL, he was very close to the Rwandans, particularly to Rwandan General James Kabarebe. L’activité a eu lieu dans la cour de l’Académie Militaire de Kananga (ex – EFO), où plusieurs personnalités politiques, administratives et militaires se sont donné rendez-vous pour y participer. [78] President Kabila's mismanagement was an important factor behind the FAC's poor performance, with soldiers frequently going unpaid and unfed while the Government purchased advanced weaponry which could not be operated or maintained. Large numbers of Belgian colonists fled the country. [27][28] Despite this, by September 1960, following the four-way division of the country, there were four separate armed forces: Mobotu's ANC itself, numbering about 12,000, the South Kasai Constabulary loyal to Albert Kalonji (3,000 or less), the Katanga Gendarmerie which were part of Moise Tshombe's regime (totalling about 10,000), and the Stanleyville dissident ANC loyal to Antoine Gizenga (numbering about 8,000). [16] Despite this, by September 1960, following the four-way division of the country, there were four separate armed forces: Mobotu's ANC itself, numbering about 12,000, the South Kasai Constabulary loyal to Albert Kalonji (3,000 or less), the Katanga Gendarmerie which were part of Moise Tshombe's regime (totalling about 10,000), and the Stanleyville dissident ANC loyal to Antoine Gizenga (numbering about 8,000). "[33], United Nations Security Council Resolution 161 of 21 February 1961, called for the withdrawal of Belgian officers from command positions in the ANC, and the training of new Congolese officers with UN help. [17] Today, Kampete is appointed commander of the very strategic base of Kitona in more than one capacity, particularly in favor of Kabila. In February 2005 President Joseph Kabila passed a decree which appointed the GR's commanding officer and "repealed any previous provisions contrary" to that decree. The Katangese lieutenant-general Jean-Claude Kifwa known as “Tango-Tango ”, a companion of the Kabila since the AFDL, becomes the commander of the other strategic base of Kamina at the moment when the United States wants to make one of the bases of it. The native of Maniema will still have to continue a transitional activity within the General Inspectorate of the FARDC while probably keeping his relays in the army where he has placed close officers, in particular within the Republican Guard and the Land Force. "[1], Kongulo Mobutu was a Captain in the DSP. See also Meitho 2001, 44-49. Everything suggests that President Tshisekedi would let the regional security agenda dictate by Kabila and Kagame, whose special units he has allowed to deploy in North and South Kivu since June 2019. [60] In November 1999 the Government attempted to form a 20,000-strong paramilitary force designated the People's Defence Forces. These units were deployed throughout the country, with the main concentrations in Shaba Region (approximately half the force). In July 1972 a number of the aging generals commanding the groupements were retired. Since then, it is this nucleus of officers and non-commissioned officers who is in command of the current troops of the GR. In addition, John Numbi, relieved of his official functions, as between 2010 and 2018, can now relocate freely in Katanga, where he had installed the security device in 2015 to neutralize the network of influence of Katumbi, to coordinate and follow quietly. He advocated severity towards opponents of Kabila and the West, to the point of encouraging Kabila not to cede his power[7]. [54] In addition to these units, a tank battalion was reported to have formed by 1979. 128, 5 July 2007, pp. The rebellion affected Kivu and Eastern (Orientale) provinces. Lieutenant General Sikabwe Asinda Fall leaves the 34th military region in North Kivu and became the Chief of Staff Land Force after being recalled to Kinshasa to suspicions of premiums misappropriation military forehead. Gordon McDonald et al, U.S. Army Area Handbook for the Republic of the Congo (Leopoldville) [issued by the Foreign Area Studies Division of American University], June 1962, p. 620. Thus with two main military bases Kitona (commanded by Lieutenant-General Ilunga Kampete) and Kamina in the hands of general officers close to Kabila, but also the strategic operational reserve bases of the GR of Kibomango and Mbakana controlled by another affiliated Katangese, Brigadier General Klein Yav Nawej, one can advance until proof to the contrary that Joseph Kabila locks the military device of the FARDC in his favor. 'In the next two days it temporarily put an end to the secession of Kasai. You can also donate even if you do not have a paypal account. An intermediate mechanism for physical identification of the soldiers, and their origin, date of enrolment, and unit was also called for (VII(c)). Finally the 41st Commando Brigade was at Kisangani. 2 ( 1978):7; "Les massacres de Katekalayi et de Luamela (Kasai Oriental)", Politique africaine 2, no. [2] This observation is also made by Christophe Rigaud of Afrikarabia ( http://afrikarabia.com/wordpress/rdc-jeu-de-chaises-musicales-dans-larmee-congolaise/ ) and Jeune Afrique ( https: // www.jeuneafrique.com/1016772/politique/rdc-sous-pression-des-usa-felix-tshisekedi-procede-a-un-prudent-remaniement-dans-larmee/ ) which speak of a “ set of musical chairs ” . They were led by Pierre Mulele, Gaston Soumialot and Christophe Gbenye who were former members of Gizenga's Parti Solidaire Africain (PSA). Sydney Taylor, The New Africans, 1967, p.102. But because of Zaire's lack of emphasis on maintenance and logistics, a lack of funding, and inadequate training, the corps is understaffed, underequipped, and generally unable to accomplish its mission. He was replaced there by the Kabilist, Lieutenant – General Gaston Hughes Ilunga Kampete. These promotions, which are operationally inexplicable given the ineffectiveness of the FARDC, may respond to a subtle strategy of seeking loyalty and allegiance to the new president among promoted generals. 737 for 17 August (19990817)", "Russia gets involved in reform of the Congolese Armed Forces", "RDC : le président Kabila suspend le général major Amisi, le chef des forces terrestres", "Hollande discusses Central Africa troop presence with DRC’s Kabila in Paris", "Les Fardc lavées des accusations et rayées de la liste noire des Nations Unies", http://www.icrc.org/Web/fre/sitefre0.nsf/htmlall/congo-kinshasa-newsletter-190410/$File/CICR%20bulletin.pdf, Decret 106/2002 portant création d’un groupement des écoles supérieures militaires des Forces armées congolaises. Thousands of Congolese were executed, including government officials, political leaders of opposition parties, provincial and local police, school teachers, and others believed to have been Westernized. Near Rwanda and Kabila, General Gahizi was previously Deputy Commander for Operations and information to the 34th Military Region (North Kivu) in Goma. Note that the main armored base of the FARDC is located in Mbanza-Ngungu, not far from Kitona. In 1993, according to the Library of Congress Country Studies,[31] the 25,000-member FAZ ground forces consisted of one infantry division (with three infantry brigades); one airborne brigade (with three parachute battalions and one support battalion); one special forces (commando/counterinsurgency) brigade; the Special Presidential Division; one independent armoured brigade; and two independent infantry brigades (each with three infantry battalions, one support battalion). See web reference at. He notably participated in the last hearing of Delphin Kahimbi a few hours before the latter’s death. [72], On 22 November 2012, Gabriel Amisi Kumba was suspended from his position in the Forces Terrestres by president Joseph Kabila due to an inquiry into his alleged role in the sale of arms to various rebel groups in the eastern part of the country, which may have implicated the rebel group M23. During the first year of the war the Allied forces defeated the Rwandan force which had landed in Bas-Congo and the rebel forces south-west of Kinshasa and eventually halted the rebel and Rwandan offensive in the east of the DRC. Senior officers often kept the money intended for the soldiers, typifying a generally disreputable and inept senior leadership in the FAZ. It appears that about the same time that Presidential Decree 03/042 of 18 December 2003 established the National Commission for Demobilisation and Reinsertion (CONADER), "..all ex-combatants were officially declared as FARDC soldiers and the then FARDC brigades [were to] rest deployed until the order to leave for brassage."[118]. Our activities [146], In June 2015 it was reported that Georgia had sold 12 of its Didgori-2 to the DRC for $4 million. [7] The various military units now grouped under the FARDC banner are some of the most unstable in Africa after years of war and underfunding. In February 2014, Ukraine revealed that it had achieved the first export order for the T-64 tank to the DRC Land Forces for 50 T-64BV-1s. Kabila despatched 10,000 government troops to the east in response, launching an attack that was called "Operation Bima". At this level, he joins Army Generals Célestin Mbala Musense, the Chief of the General Staff of the FARDC who has been in this post since Joseph Kabila and John Numbi who still retains his operational function of command of the operational staff advanced to Beni to fight armed groups.