Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi sacks military top brass in major reshuffle
The last significant military reshuffle took place in October 2022, when Tshisekedi appointed Tshiwewe as chief of staff.
Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has replaced the chief of staff of the armed forces and dozens of other senior military figures in one of the biggest shake-ups of its kind in recent years, state television said on Thursday.
The presidential order read by the broadcaster did not give a reason for the removal of armed forces chief Christian Tshiwewe Songesha, who has been replaced by Lieutenant-General Jules Banza Mwilambwe.
More To Read
- Massive trenches are swallowing homes across the DRC
- At least 193 dead in two separate boat accidents in Congo River
- Kenya’s Ambassador to DRC ordered to repay Sh1.8 Million over irregular KMTC appointment
- Over 100 killed as canoe capsizes in northwestern DR Congo
- DRC’s Joseph Kabila is on trial for treason: What case against the former Congolese president is all about
- DR Congo crisis: Funding cuts curtail assistance to victims of violence
Others replaced include the head of military intelligence and most of DR Congo's commanding officers including those in charge of security operations in the volatile east, which since 2022 has been further destabilised by the M23 rebel insurgency.
The last significant military reshuffle took place in October 2022, when Tshisekedi appointed Tshiwewe as chief of staff as part of broader defence reforms that his office said were aimed at boosting efficiency.
Fighting has flared recently in eastern North Kivu province in violation of a ceasefire agreement, while hopes of an imminent deal with neighbouring Rwanda to curb the M23 conflict have dimmed.
Congo and the United Nations accuse Rwanda of backing M23 with its own troops and weapons. Rwanda denies this.
Top Stories Today
