President Tshisekedi makes reshuffles in army

Ndaywel

Chiko Tshitambwe

jules Banzai Mwilambwe

Pacifique Masunzu

Lieutenant General Jules Banza Mwilambwe has been appointed Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) to replace Army General Tshiwewe Christian who as been given a role as the military adviser to the president. 

Brigadier General B.Kimbalambala Bataauli has been appointed as head of Military intelligence.

The Head of State has decided to keep Lieutenant General Jacques Itshangoliza Nduru in his post as Deputy Chief of General Staff in charge of operations and intelligence. 

For his part, Lieutenant General Léon Richard Kasonga has lost his post to Lieutenant General Kabamba wa Kasanda François.

Major Gen Christian Ndaywel will head the FARDC land forces.

Changes have also been made in military zones:

Pacific Masunzu a bitter critique of Kagame's advances in DRC has been appointed as head of the 3rd defence zone and deputies byBiangalo Anthony andd Brigadier general Mpanga modeste

Tchitambwe Chico ha been appointed as head of first defence zone ad will be deputized by  Kabundi Etienne and Punza Ngoma who will be in charge of administration in this zone 

2nd defence zone to be headed by Bitangalo Clement and deputised by Sadik Maboko

Major Gen Makombo Jean Rodger appointed as deputy chief off staff in charge of intelligence within FARDC.

This change within the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo comes in a context of rising violence in the east of the country and the advance of the M23, particularly in the Lubero territory, in North Kivu. Despite the ceasefire in effect since August 4, 2024, clashes between the M23 and other armed groups continue. The M23 has extended its territorial control, particularly towards Pinga, in the Walikale territory, and has even established a parallel administration in the areas it controls, according to recent statements from the group's political president, Bertrand Bisimwa.

The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), for their part, have called for direct dialogue with the Rwandan government in a letter addressed to Angolan President João Lourenço, who plays a mediating role in the region. With this new dynamic within the military apparatus, the FARDC will have to respond to major challenges, including the fight against armed groups, the stabilization of tense areas and the restoration of state authority in the east of the country.

General Banza Mwilambwe Jules takes office in a context where the government faces demands for direct dialogue from the Congo River Alliance (AFC)/M23 and other armed groups, while the international community, notably through MONUSCO, continues to document the scale of human rights violations.

Summary:

-Lieutenant General Banza Mwilanié Jules appointed Chief of General Staff of the FARDC;

- Army General Christian Chiwewe appointed military advisor to the Head of State, after having been Chief of General Staff;

- Major General Christia Ndaywel who leaves DEMIAP for the Land Force, where he is appointed Chief of General Staff;

- General Chico Tshitambwe

appointed commander of the first defense zone;

- Major General Makombo Jean-Roger appointed deputy chief of staff in charge of military intelligence;

- General Pacifique Masunzu appointed commander of the third defense zone.

There are also some military officers who have been promoted in rank for their bravery and service to the nation.

Lieutenant General

1. Banza Jules 

2. Kabamba François 

3. Kasongo kabwik Jean-Pierre

Major General

1. Malubuni Martin 

2. Makombo jean Roger 

3. Biagolo Antoine

Brigadier General

1. Katende Benjamin Batubadila 

2. Maloba Mwila Éric 

3. Monga bongo Remond 

4. Mpanga Muamba Modeste

5. Muteteke Jules

In addition, the Head of State also appointed a new head of the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization Program (P-DDRC). This is Jean de Dieu Ntanga Nkita.

Despite some changes made within the command of the Republican Guard (GR), the Head of State Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi has decided to renew his confidence in Major General Kabi Kiriza Ephraim as Commander of this special unit of presidential security, a position he has held since October 2022.

Following a series of orders read on Thursday, December 19 on the national channel, Head of State Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi appointed Brigadier General Katende Batubadila Benjamin to the post of Deputy Commander in charge of operations and intelligence, replacing Brigadier General Inengeli Baka Thierryson. 

Brigadier General Mulumba Kabanangi Désiré has been retained as Deputy Commander in charge of administration and logistics. This will be the case for the GR General Staff, which will still be led by Maloba Mwila Éric, now elevated to the rank of Brigadier General, who was a colonel before this elevation in rank.

In another similar order, the Head of State Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi proceeded to the appointment within the specified commands of the Republican Guard. According to the same order, he appointed in particular:

• Colonel Tshala Kalambayi Dédé: T2 Republican Guard 

• Colonel Lumu Kateba Alidor: T3 Republican Guard

• Colonel Katanga Mubikayi Dieudonné Commander 14th security regiment

• Lieutenant Colonel Makoko Bwanamoya Serge Commander 141st high security protection.

In addition to the common missions assigned to the army, the GR has specific missions, under the terms of order no. 13-063 on the organization and operation of the Republican Guard, of June 22, 2013, to ensure: the guard and protection of the President of the Republic and his family as well as distinguished guests; the security of presidential property and installations; escorts and honors at the level of the Presidency of the Republic.

In case of emergency or necessity, the GR can be requisitioned and engaged in combat (at the front) or in operations to maintain or restore public order. Its commander reports to the President of the Republic in terms of operations; he is his right-hand man. But in terms of administration and logistics, he reports to the Chief of General Staff of the FARDC.

You can read more about these officers and zones in this post by clicking on this link

Will DRC an Rwanda again meets in Angola?

 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Rwanda, announced that the message received by President Paul Kagame was sent by the Mediator for the Rwanda-DRC issues, with the aim of resuming talks between the two countries, and that the talks between the President and the envoy he had suspended were successful.

This message was received by President Kagame on the evening of Wednesday, December 18, 2024, when he received the Special Envoy of the President of Angola, João Laurenço, who was assigned the task of mediating the issues between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

It was a message brought by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Angola, Tete António, who was received by President Kagame, accompanied by his counterpart, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Rwanda, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe.

In an interview with TV 5 Monde after the event, Nduhungirehe was asked by a journalist about the outcome of the talks between President Paul Kagame and the special envoy of his Angolan counterpart, who he said had brought him a message.

He said, “The Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs brought a message of mediation, in terms of the will to resume the talks, and the talks they held were fruitful. But of course, I can’t say much about it.”

The journalist also asked him if people believed that the talks between Rwanda and the DRC were going to continue, and he replied that Rwanda has always been willing to do so and that it is not going anywhere.

He said, “We have always wanted and prepared for the talks, and we have continued to support the talks in Luanda, and although the meeting was postponed, we will continue to work with whoever wants to do so to try to ensure that the talks continue.”

One of the reasons why the meeting that was supposed to bring together President Paul Kagame and Tshisekedi was postponed was that Congo had already announced that it would not negotiate with M23, despite having previously agreed to it.

Minister Nduhungirehe, in this interview with TV 5 Monde, reiterated that no matter what happens, Congo must negotiate with M23 in order to find a permanent solution to the problems that led to the emergence of this group.

He reiterated that there is no other reason why Rwanda continues to request these talks, except that the M23 problems also affect Rwanda's security, because the DRC uses them as an excuse to work with those who want to destabilize it, including the FDLR, and it also affects regional security, given that the Congolese government is currently increasing the number of European contractors in the long-running conflict in the east of the country.

DRC minister of foreign affairs summoned Mr Matata Twaha of Uganda embassy in DRC as Sudan too demanded explanation over Muhoozi's tweets

 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Congolese diplomacy, summoned Mr. Matata Twa Magara, A.I. Affairs of Uganda in the DRC. The latter gave some explanations on the recent remarks of Muhoozi Kainerugaba, commander -in -chief of the Ugandan defense forces concerning President Tshilombo. From the tension between the DRC and Rwanda: "Uganda has no position, it is a matter between two countries and our position is very clear since the start of the security crisis".

Twaha Magara, who holds the position of Chargé d’Affaires [who has the same responsibilities as an Ambassador when that country does not have one living] of Uganda in the DRC, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.

A message from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the DRC states that “Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner summoned Matata Twaha Magara” to “provide clarification on the recent announcements by the Chief of Staff of the Ugandan Armed Forces regarding President Tshisekedi.”

The DRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues: “The Minister requested accurate information on the position of the Ugandan leadership on these announcements, and they also discussed the state of relations between the two countries.”

The Ugandan Chargé d’Affaires in the DRC was summoned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to explain Gen. Muhoozi

The Chief of Staff of the Ugandan Armed Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has been tweeting on X [Twitter] for a few days, recently speaking about the long-standing issues between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, where he also spoke about the Heads of State of the two countries who were supposed to meet for talks in Luanda but were postponed.

Gen Muhoozi had said that he planned to visit President Tshisekedi and ask for peace, knowing that his counterpart President Paul Kagame always prioritizes it.

In a message published by Muhoozi on the X website the day, December 17, but later removed, he had said that “President Kagame is always a man of peace and I know that he seeks the welfare of the DRC. I will go to see my brother President Tshisekedi and ask for peace.”

Meanwhile, on Monday of this week, Gen Muhoozi had sent another message to X, warning white settlers in eastern DRC that in January of next year, his UPDF troops would launch a full-scale attack on them.

Watch the video below:

CDF Muhoozi ha since deleted the tweets!

Sudan!

Sudan demands official apology from Ugandan government.

Sudan calls Afande kainerugaba's statements threatening to invade Khartoum as soon as US President Donald Trump takes office reckless and irresponsible.

Gen Sheikh Dembele and Dr.Donald Kaberuka in Mogadishu

 

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday welcomed an AU delegation in Mogadishu led by Gen. Cheick Dembele, Head of the AU Peace Support Operations Division, and Dr. Donald Kaberuka, AU High Representative for the Peace Fund, during their one-day visit to Somalia.

The visit comes two weeks before the ATMIS mission ends on Dec. 31, 2024. While the Somali government and ATMIS have yet to outline the transition to AUSSOM, observers suggest current troops may continue under the new AU mission.

Tanzania foreign minister in Mogadishu

 

Tanzanian delegation led by Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit arrived in Mogadishu on Wednesday, where they were welcomed by Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, Ambassador to Tanzania Ilyas Ali, and other senior officials at Adan Abdulle International Airport.

 The delegation’s visit focuses on signing agreements to strengthen bilateral ties in defence, tourism, health, aviation (including establishing direct flights), and other areas of cooperation.

M23 entered Mbingi in walikale as it affirms its presence in various localities in Lubero with preparations to capture Butembo by 25/12/2024 and Benitez by 1/1/2025.

 

The security situation remains calm in the village of Alimbongo and its surroundings after violent clashes between WAZALENDO and FARDC against the M23 rebels supported by the Rwandan army.

"The M23 rebels, as usual, continue to intensify their attacks on the side of the region. They seem to want to rely on the west coast of Lake Edward to try to take Butembo and Beni. According to their statements, they have warned the population that they will control these two cities by January 1. However, when alerts are issued, the government tends to take them lightly. Today, the attacks have already begun."Since last week, the M23 rebels supported by Rwanda have opened several fronts against the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the Wazalendo resistance in the territories of Lubero and Walikale, entities located in the province of North Kivu.

Through these offensives, these attackers have seized several strategic towns that were still controlled by the FARDC. In addition to Alimbongo, Matembe, the village of Mambasa located in the chiefdom of Bamate, Lubero and Buleusa have also come under rebel control. Villages under rebel occupation have mostly been emptied by their populations.

"Several of these villages are emptied by their populations. The rebels behave like free electrons. The FARDC elements must be reinforced in their numbers," a source told BETO under cover of anonymity.

Butembo, entire Lubero, will they survive?

However, faced with this rebel advance, some are wondering about the role of the Minister of National Defense, less felt by the population in this crisis. Fabrice Saambili, one of the observers who wants to know what the Minister of Defense is really doing, wonders how strategic localities such as Matembe and Alimbongo are falling one by one without an adequate military response?

"At this rate, Butembo and Lubero could be the next targets, putting millions of lives at risk. Meanwhile, our Minister of Defense remains comfortably seated in his air-conditioned office in Kinshasa, far from the realities on the ground," he denounced.

For him, "the incompetence of the Minister of Defense" is not only flagrant, but it constitutes a betrayal of the populations abandoned to their fate. "This minister seems to be unaware that his primary mission is to protect the territorial integrity and citizens of this country. Instead of mobilizing our troops and providing the necessary means for their deployment, he prefers to hide behind a diplomacy that, so far, has not produced anything concrete.

Additional intelligence findings reveal demoralized civilian society who have lost hope in FARDC and all of them believe that Butembo and Benitez will fall to the M23.The preparations and reinforcements plus the determination of the rebels leaves doubt as to whether these two cities will survive.They did miss GOMA by the end of December last year but the taking of these two cities in the great north of north kivu will leave FARDC in panick and GOMA security shaken.

of residents has been observed since Tuesday, December 17, 2024 in the city of Buleusa, capital of the Walikale territory, in the province of North Kivu.

This, the day after the capture of this strategic city by the M23/RDF rebels following the clashes against the FARDC-WAZALENDO coalitions since last Sunday.

According to HUMINT collections from civilians in the area this wednesday, many families have emptied the area heading towards supposedly calm villages.

"After the attacks in the Lubero territory, the M23/RDF opened fire on other axes, particularly diagonally between the Masisi territory and that of Walikale. Unfortunately, the enemy took control of the aforementioned city, after intense fighting between the FARDC-WAZALENDO and M23/RDF coalitions. The presence of the rebels is at the root of the psychosis and massive displacement of the inhabitants,"

According  to Intelligence information confirmed by certain security sources including base leaders who preferred to remain anonymous.

They said the security situation remains tense in the villages surrounding Buleusa.

Meanwhile, in Lubero, clashes continued this Wednesday around the town of Alimbongo which was occupied by M23 rebels this week.

According to independent sources,FARDC responded to the enemy's attacks which are said to be planning to advance towards other villages located near the town of Kipese.

As a result, activities remain paralyzed in almost all sectors, the most affected being transport and education.

M23 advancing on sporadically!

Intelligence from the Frontline indicate  spectacular advance by M23 since last Sunday.

"This is a new worrying development that is underway in the south of Lubero territory. We do not understand why the FARDC strategically withdrew from the localities of Mambasa, 90km from the commercial city of Butembo and Ndoluma, in Lubero territory without engaging in combat against the M23 rebels.

This is a withdrawal with a negative and immediate impact on the local population. As i write, the villages of Mambasa, Ndoluma, Kitsombiro, Bikara and Katondi are now empty. The inhabitants fled after the withdrawal of the FARDC," the source said.

In the territory of Walikale, clashes between the M23  and the FARDC supported by the Wazalendo continued this Wednesday, December 18.

Local sources said that the locality of Buleusa came under rebel control on Tuesday, December 17.

A military source in the area said that the Congolese army is organizing to respond to these attacks by the M23 rebellion supported by the Rwandan army.

Mbingi captured?

This Wednesday afternoon, the M23 rebels have occupied the town of Mbingi, the capital of the Batangi chiefdom, 50 kilometers from Lubero-Centre.

The FARDC retreated after a brief exchange of fire, abandoning the town in the hands of the attackers.

The Congolese military found themselves almost surrounded; the rebels had already taken control of the strategic roads of Kaseghe and Alimbongo, the main access routes to Mbingi.

Ambushes laid on FARDC men by unknown assailants!

An ambush leaves 3 dead including 2 men in military uniform FARDC and a civilian on the road leading to Lubero center.

According to the administrator of the Lubero territory, the unidentified attackers took the victims' weapons.

"Two soldiers were killed and the first thing to note is that their weapons were taken away. We will put in place strategies to discover the perpetrators of this act. These are not isolated cases, and these incidents are increasing on national road number 2, which is today considered a rear infrastructure according to military jargon. It is imperative to secure this road during this period of operations," said Colonel Kiwewa Mitela Alain, administrator of the Lubero territory.

.....wait for tomorrow's report...Good night....

M23 captures Alimbongo a point strategic for plans to capture entire Lubero and Butembo

 

Watch the footage!

M23 has signed entry  cAlimbongo in North Kivu.Footage filmed by M23 rebels shows their presence in the village of Alimbongo, after fighting against the FARDC. This strategic capture opens the way for the M23 towards Lubero center and the city of Butembo. 

The town of Alimbongo (Lubero territory) has finally come under the control of the M23 rebels supported by Rwanda despite 15 days of resistance by the Congolese army. The inhabitants of Alimbongo testified that the rebels signed their entry into this town around 5 p.m. local time at the end of the fighting that pitted them against the Congolese army since 10 a.m. 

Alimbongo, in the Bamate chiefdom, had until then been the army's major strategic obstacle since the announcement of the ceasefire by the United States of America in early August, the day after the fall of Kirumba, Kayna and Kanyabayonga. 

Its fall comes after that of Matembe conquered Sunday by the rebels. With the fall of Alimbongo, the M23 rebels sign their entry into the chiefdom of Bamate and advance towards Lubero-centre. Direction which is currently experiencing a significant influx of war displaced persons. 

Alimbongo fell while the inhabitants were hoping for a victory by the Congolese army, which held out for 15 days and even tried to push back the rebels at Mighobwe and Luofu, around Kirumba. 

A notable from Alimbongo mentions logistical problems within the FARDC, which does not have enough vehicles to move around. Their Kamaz vehicles purchased during the Kabila era have aged and the army has returned to the old habits of using civilian vehicles. The same source also mentions the issue of calls for respecting ceasefires, which are confusing Congolese soldiers.

Military sources do not wish to comment on this new change in the balance of power at the front in the Lubero territory. 

The Congolese army has not yet officially reacted to this information.

M23 recaptures Matembe and strengthens their defences.

The M23 rebels recaptured the Matembe area yesterday evening, Sunday, forcing the DRC armed forces to retreat towards Vutsorovia.

This comes after Rwanda's refusal to take part in the Luanda talks.

Despite massive losses to FARDC last week,Sources on the Frontline are talking about a reinforcement of the rebels' fortifications, perhaps in view of large-scale attacks.

I am assuring this,basing on the level of reinforcements,it is going to be a bloody attack.

No official  communication from the FARDC for the moment about this.

.

M23 strategic bases in Tongo faced fire from wazalendo and FARDC

The strategic positions of Tongo including Rushege and Rushovu are now under the control of the Wazalendo, it is since 3pm after violent clashes between the rebels of Paul Kagame M23_RDF_AFC and the Congolese  forces supported by the Wazalendo patriots that these two towns have been recovered.

The M23 have suffered heavy human and material losses on these positions

The Luanda peace talks flop as Kigali demand Kinshasha to have direct talks with M23

 

The tripartite between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Angolan President Joâo Lourenço will no longer take place. This announcement was made this Sunday, December 15, 2024, by the Congolese Presidency.

According to this source, the cancellation of this meeting is caused by the refusal of the Rwandan delegation to take part in this meeting supposed to put an end to hostilities in the East of the DRC by the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese zones.

"Started more than 5 hours late, while the Congolese party was already in the room, the ministerial meeting between the DRC and Rwanda, which was to validate the agreement to be submitted for signature by the heads of state, ended in a damp squib." The Rwandan delegation inserted a clause not provided for in the initial agreement. This new paragraph makes the signing of this agreement conditional on direct negotiations between the DRC and the M23. Something the DRC has always refused," we read in a dispatch from the Congolese Presidency.

The Congolese and Rwandan presidents were due to meet under the auspices of Angolan President João Lourenço, the African Union (AU) designated mediator in the conflict between Kigali and Kinshasa, for new talks aimed at restoring peace in eastern DRC. Early this Sunday morning, only Félix Tshisekedi had arrived at the Angolan Presidency. However, two days before the summit, both parties had stated that they were working on an agreement that could be finalized this same Sunday and that there was a desire to move towards signing a new agreement.

 an official statement, Kinshasa accused Kigali of setting "last-minute conditions" by demanding direct dialogue between the DRC and the M23 rebel group. The DRC, which describes the group as "terrorist", firmly rejected the demand, seeing it as an attempt to "destabilise and torpedo" the peace process.

"An unacceptable condition"

According to the statement, this Rwandan demand is considered incompatible with the objectives set by previous mediations and seriously compromises the efforts undertaken under the auspices of Angola and supported by the African Union. Kinshasa insists that no legitimacy can be granted to the M23, accused of multiple human rights violations and illegal occupation of vast territories in North Kivu.

The summit was also due to address the withdrawal of the Rwandan Armed Forces (RDF) and the disarmament of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), but the cancellation of the meeting jeopardises these advances.

Call for international responsibility

Kinshasa has welcomed the efforts of Angolan President João Lourenço, while calling on the international community to "take responsibility" in the face of what it considers to be "a deliberate blocking strategy" by Kigali. The statement, signed by Erik Nyindu Kibambe, director of the presidential communications unit, states that "the world must see that Rwanda is a major obstacle to peace in the Great Lakes region."

Another failure for regional diplomacy

The cancellation marks a further setback for mediation efforts in the region. The differences between Kigali and Kinshasa over the management of the M23 illustrate the continuing challenges to achieving a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

The Congolese government, however, remains committed to the peace process under the leadership of João Lourenço, while rejecting any attempt to recognise the armed groups as legitimate interlocutors.

Kinshasa and Kigali continue to accuse each other of supporting armed militias operating in the region, exacerbating an already complex situation and threatening the stability of the entire Great Lakes region.