FARDC chief of staff general Mbala Celestine is in Beni for a command inspection mission and inquiry on the operations against rebels groups including ADF

Army General Célestin Mbala, through military sources, says he is carrying out a command inspection mission in eastern and northeastern DRC. This is in particular to inquire about the evolution of the so-called "large-scale" operations launched at the end of November 2019 against armed groups, including the rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

Last Monday, the FARDC Chief of General Staff, during a press briefing in Bunia (Ituri), banned armed groups that have joined the peace process from circulating with weapons and military clothing.

The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the DRC, Army General Célestin Mbala has been in Beni, a town in eastern DRC, since Wednesday, September 17, 2020,he installed a new Commander of the 3rd military zone.

 

According to military sources quoted by local media, Army General Célestin Mbala is on a mission to inspect and assess military operations against ADF rebels in the region.

This arrives in Beni while the population is already expressing its fed up with the persistence of insecurity, especially the killings of civilians perpetrated by the ADF.

On Wednesday, some residents of Beni signed a deed of engagement to fight the ADF. These residents were supported by Lucha activists and staged a peaceful protest outside the town hall to obtain the mayor's permission to go and fight the ADF rebels.

Interim Mayor Bakwanamaha Modeste said it is not for him to prohibit or allow such an initiative but rather for the military. He called on protesters not to disrupt army operations against the rebellion in the region.

Celestin Mbala is returning from the town of Bunia where he had been staying since September 11 for an official mission.

In Ituri province, he promised to do everything in his power to restore peace to the people of Ituri province (northeast of DR Congo).

He proceeded with the installation of the new commander of the 3rd defense zone.

This working visit was part of the materialization of the options raised by the Supreme Defense Council chaired by the Head of State, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi last September 7, concerning the "problematic of armed groups in the East from the country ".

The President of the Republic had given new instructions to the officials of the FARDC, the PNC and the intelligence services in his capacity as supreme commander of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Congolese National Police.

Monusco will close its Kindu office this Friday

The United Nations Mission for the Stabilization of Congo (Monusco) is already announcing the closure of its office in Kindu (Maniema) this Friday, 18 September 2020 in accordance with its new budget, and as required by the Security Council.

The confirmation is from the head of office of Monusco South Kivu / Maniema, Wednesday, September 16, 2020, to the press after a hearing given to him by the interim Governor of the province.

According to Karna Soro, the closure of this Kindu office is part of the downsizing of this peacekeeping mission in the DRC, announced a few days ago by the United Nations Secretary-General in the DRC.

He justifies this decision because there are no armed groups in 95 % of Maniema province. But he reassures that despite the permanent closure of the said office which will take place on Friday, September 18, 2020, Monusco will continue to work in that province.

This announcement of the closure of the Monusco office in Kindu has worried some people who fear the rise of insecurity in this province by armed groups.

Angola and DRC sign three agreements on security and movements of people

Three agreements were signed between the Congolese and Angolan authorities to sanction the end of the bilateral defense and security meeting between the Republic of Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo held since September 14th.

After three days of exchange in Luanda, from 14 to 16 September, the ten governors of the boundaries between the DRC and Angola reached an agreement on the security issue at the border, the constitution a bilateral permanent commission of governors of the surrounding provinces and management of the impact of Covid-19.

With particular regard to the security issue, governors agree to support a new era of active collaboration between the parties, to diligent the implementation of the legal instruments necessary for the realization of collaboration between the parties, to encourage their respective states To identify the border population with a view to monitoring and facilitating the flow, to authorize and harmonize the cost of local crossing taxes at border crossing crossing crossing to facilitate the movement of people and goods and to discourage fraud.

They are also committed to establishing border crossings and markets to facilitate trade and to support the establishment of respective consular missions in border provinces.

In addition to defence and security issues, these provincial authorities have supported the idea of the establishment of a bilateral standing committee of governors in the surrounding provinces. Commission which should meet alternatively in each country.

The Congolese side was represented by governors Dieudonné Pieme Tutokot (Kasai), Ambroise Kamukuny (Central Kasai), Atou Matubuana (Kongo central), Leopold Kangulumba (Kwango), Madame Fifi Masuka Saini, Vice-Governor of Lualaba.

Angolan side was represented by Dr. Miguel dos Santos de Oliveira, Deputy Governor of Cabinda Province, Dr. Ernesto Muangala, Governor of Lunda Norte, Victor da Silva de Oliveira, Deputy Governor of Moxico Province, Sérgio Lúther Rescova Joaquim, Governor of Uíge and Mr. Pedro Makita Arnaldo Júlia from Zaire province.

According to the press of the Kasaï-Central governorate which delivers the information, this is an agreement on defense and security, the movement of people and their goods along the common border and a memorandum of intent on the creation of the permanent joint defense and security commission between the two countries.

The said meeting, moderated by the Secretary of State for the Interior of the Republic of Angola, José Bamóquina Zau, assisted by the Head of the Department of Central and West Africa, Campos Viera Campos, mainly focused on 3 main topics whose :

- Strengthening border security for both parties;

- The establishment of a permanent bilateral commission of provincial governors;

- And managing the impact of covid-19 and pooling resources to eradicate it.

The Republic of Angola was represented by the Vice-Governor in charge of Economic and Social Policy of Cabinda, the Governor of the Province of Lunda Norte, the Vice-Governor of Economic and Social Policy of the Province of Moxico, as well as the governor of the province of Zaire.

And for the Congolese part, the governor of the province of Kasaï, the governor of the province of Kasaï-Central, the governor of the province of Kongo-Central, the governor of the province of Kwango, as well as the vice-governor of the province of Lualaba.

A new armed group in North Kivu named′′ Coalition des movements pour la change du Congo ′′ (CMC)

 A new armed group called ′′ Coalition des movements pour la change du Congo ′′ (CMC) is born in the territory of Rutshuru in North Kivu. Fighters who have been settled for 3 weeks some 4 km from Rutshuru-centre, these militias impose illegal taxes.

There continues acts militants' attacks in North Kivu,last night  A delegation from the NGO WORLD VISION was attacked this Wednesday night between the localities of LUOFU and KASIKI south of the territory of LUBERO.

1 dead by bullet, 1 injured, 2 people kidnapped.

This delegate just fell into an ambush tense by men not otherwise identified.

MPP AISÉ KANENDU urgently requests that Commander FARDC who controls this area be able to explain himself to his hierarchy on this unprecedented fact.

Between LUOFU and KASIKI 5 km a way, and this area is under the control of FARDC, this army which is a refuge for all criminals and warlords.

The injured is already in KAYNA for care.

Anyone who wants to fight ADF must sign an act of commitment approved by their parents ′′ (Mayor Bakwanamaha Modeste says )

Dozens of activists of the citizen movement Fight for Change (Lucha), once again took to the streets of Beni, North Kivu, on Monday, September 16, 2020.

Through this new demonstration that went down to the city hall, activists wanted to sign the acts of commitment to fight ADF, in the bush.

Bakwanamaha Modeste, ad-interim mayor of the city who received the protesters said that if they want to fight alongside the FARDC, to destroy the ADF, they must first inform the operational sector commander and sign individual engagement.

′′ You want to go to a red zone that I can't control. I think you need to seize the Commander operational sector to tell him you want to help him. So this is what he told me like you haven't seized it yet. Sector Commander told me Mayor if there will be any people who want to fight, ADFs in the bush, they have to sign an individual act of commitment approved by their parents. Someone write me as I sign to fight the enemy in bush in a red zone. Everything I can find out there hires me alone and then sign you ". says Ad-Acting Mayor Bakwanamaha Modeste.

4 people arrested for missing USD 800000 at Kasindi-Lubiriha border crossing,this money was meant for the fundind of ADF rebels.

 

As i ealier wrote about this issue last month,Four people, including a senior FARDC officer, have been arrested for the past few days at the higher military auditorate near the North Kivu operational military court in Beni.

According to security sources, these people are being prosecuted in the file of disappearance of USD 800000, passed last August by the border of Kasindi-Lubiriha in Congolese territory.

This army officer is being prosecuted for releasing the bearer of this money without his hearing and identification. Military justice accuses him of violation of instructions and concussion.

The head of North Kivu's revenue director in Kasindi-Lubiriha, an official of the Good Governance and Anti-corruption Office and economic operator in Butembo are also being prosecuted in this case.

On August 9, this amount of USD 800000 in cash, from Kenya, was seized by security services at the border of Kasindi-Lubiriha in Beni territory, says these security sources. But under quite troubled circumstances, the money and its carrier disappeared without leaving any traces.

Today, military justice seeks to understand the origin and destination of this money. Investigators do not rule out the ADF funding route, active in the Beni region, estimate these sources.

Alleged Rwandan backed Rebel leader Handlebar Shimiray Mwisa has taken over Pinga again.Pinga is not far from Goma!!!!

Self-proclaimed General Shimiray Mwisa, challenged leader of the rebel group Nduma defense of Congo (NDC-RENOVÉ) has taken control of the city of Pinga in Walikale territory since the evening of Tuesday, September 15, 2020.

According to the Kivu Safe Barometer, a branch of the Congo Study Group (GEC), the historical leader of the NDC-RENOVÉ has recovered control of the Katanga neighborhood in pinga after clashes.

This foray occurred after a clash between the dissident troops of the Gilbert Bwira Shuo wing who allegedly attacked some elements of Handlebar in Kailenge village. A village about 3 kilometers from the city of Pinga.

Our sources inform that during this attack, General Handlebar's troops appeared to have won the battle. Which allowed them to progress to Pinga.

In the meantime, elements of the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) have been visible in Pinga and its surroundings for a few months after the abandonment of two factions.

As a reminder, rebel leader shimiray handlebar had been deprived since July 09, 2020 by the movement that accused him of having committed several acts contrary to the ideologies of the movement, including non-respect for international humanitarian and other law.

A situation that had then caused the split of movement, among other things, the Bwira and Handlebar wing which regularly face each other. This would have caused deaths in two parties.

President Tshisekede's revitalised FARDC inspectorates

 

Discipline, they say, is the mother of the army and proper administration of FARDC requires control at all levels of human resources and logistics deployed on all fronts. The Head of State, as Supreme Commander of the FARDC, understood him so well that he wanted to revitalize the Inspectorate General of Army by putting experienced officers with knowledge of the field and military affairs management.

The trio called to revitalize this crucial service for our army is composed of Army General Amisi Kumba Gabriel (Inspector General), General-Major Muhindo Akili Mundos (Deputy Inspector General in charge of intelligence and operations) and General-Major Kasereka Sindani Étienne (Deputy Inspector General in charge of administration).

The Inspectorate General of Armed Forces is part of three levels of a country's defense system. In the first level, the elements of maneuvers, namely military regions, operational sectors, brigades and combat units, the second level (Coordination elements) is composed of the General Staff, Land Forces Staff, Naval Forces Staff, Air Force Staff and the 3 Defense Zones. Finally, in the third level, called Elements of Conception, we find the President of the Republic, Parliament and the Government. In all the army of the world, the Inspectorate General is integrating the level of the Conception.

He acts as a key element in army control. This is the compass as this body is called to control the means that the Government makes available to the army through the Ministry of National Defence. It passes on government orders and directions for the proper run of national defense. Simply put, the General Inspectorate of Armies ensures proper march, staff control, logistics, everything that is going on in the army, everything that locks the proper functioning of the army preventing it from being more efficient in his delightful mission.

Operationally, the Inspectorate General responds to the orders of the Supreme Commander of FARDC and administratively, to the government. Taking into account the mission of this tool by the Supreme Commander of the FARDC is a guarantee of success and / or failure of the general national defence policy. As we know, in order for there to be a decision to deploy to the front (to war), it takes the agreement of the government and the siding. The government gives its green light to the General Staff (Coordination level) to evaluate the power ratio and the unit to be sent to the field to respond effectively by putting substantial means. On a tactical level, the maneuvers are acting.

Coordination gives order over what's going on on the field (maneuver / tactics). On these officers, lots of inks and saliva sank. The three general officers have ordered risky operations in problematic and iconic areas. On the proposal of Army General Célestin Mbala Munsense, Chief of General Staff of the FARDC who knows the achievements and bravours of his men, and as wisdom wants: ′′ You do not shoot at your own sniper ", the Head of State by trusting them to judge them on actions, gives them the opportunity to prove that what they were accused of was just chimera. They will be judged at the outcome.

The assignment of three officers, all field men who have nothing left to prove to animate this tool, is another asset for the Head of State in his look at the operation of the army. Unless this body that has received a new breath is corrupted like some others, in which case, the last energy must be sanctioned, the efficiency of the national army must be proven from the Inspectorate. In charge of intelligence and operations, General-Major Muhindo Akili Mundos should be more mobile to take temperature on all military fronts and, the experience helping, make detailed, tactical and technical reports for the proper conduct of operations. As a reminder, the three General Officers were appointed by Order No. 20/075 of July 17, 2020 Appointing to the Inspectorate General of FARDC.

With Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi's advent to power, we feel the resurrection of the Inspector General of Finance as a State control tool, it is desirable that all inspections, including that of the Congolese National Police, should cover and catch breath to act as the law wants to make the services they are called upon to control more efficiently. The fear of the policeman, like the fear of God in Christians, would be beneficial to the republic.

The United Kingdom’s chief of defence intelligence, Lt. Gen. Jim Hockenhull, has warned that Russia’s nuclear-powered Burevestnik (NATO name Skyfall) cruise missiles could remain in the atmosphere for multiple years if necessary and could pose a threat at any moment.

"Moscow is testing a sub-sonic nuclear-powered cruise missile system which has global reach and would allow attack from unexpected directions," Hockenhull said during a media briefing at the Five Eyes intelligence hub, as quoted by the UK’s Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

The intelligence chief, who said that the Burevestnik missile has "a near-indefinite loiter time," also noted Moscow investments in submarines and sea warfare, adding that these will give the Russian armed forces the ability to strike military and civilian infrastructure.

"These capabilities together allow the Russians to hold the UK and its allies’ civilian and military infrastructure at risk of direct attack both with conventional explosives and nuclear weapons, limiting options or raising the stakes during times of crisis," Hockenhull said, as quoted by the newspaper.

The Burevestnik cruise missile is one of six new strategic weapons that were unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin in March 2018.

The Five Eyes intelligence alliance comprises agencies from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US.