Lt. Col Manirakiza of Burundian army shot dead by M23.

Lieutenant-Colonel Patrice Manirakiza, who commanded the 18th battalion of the Burundian army that had facilitated the fight against the AFC/M23 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, died on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.

The officer died at Tanganyika Care Hospital in Bujumbura from his wounds, where he had been ill for more than two weeks.

On December 6, Lt. Col Manirakiza was shot in the Luvungi area of ​​South Kivu province, while the troops he was leading were engaged in combat with AFC/M23 rebels.

Those who were with him when he was shot said that he was hit by a drone strike. When he saw it, he immediately asked his guard to enter his sleeping quarters, pack everything and leave the barracks.

As the soldier entered to pack his belongings, Lt. Col Manirakiza was hit by a second bomb, seriously injuring him, and reports say he was the only one injured.

The soldier died while reports say the bomb had damaged his internal organs, including his kidneys and intestines, as well as his legs.

Commander of the Kamina Military Base, General Dieudonné Muhima is under arrest.

The series of arrests within the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) continues with the detention, on Sunday, December 21, 2025, of General Dieudonné Muhima Batechi, commander of the strategic Kamina military base. He is accused of embezzling public funds and military rations, in the context of an intensified fight against corruption within the Congolese army.

This arrest brings to at least 22 the number of generals detained since the beginning of this vast operation to "moralize" the armed forces, initiated by the General Staff of the Armed Forces. General Muhima Batechi is not unknown: a former right-hand man of the controversial General Muhindo Akili, known as "Mundos," himself under sanctions from the European Union and the United States for serious human rights violations, he is also alleged to have been involved in dubious affairs, notably the suspected plot surrounding the assassination of Colonel Mamadou Ndala.

According to several military intelligence sources in FARDC, the arrest took place on the morning of December 21, in an atmosphere of palpable tension. Major General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesperson for the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo), confirmed during a briefing that these arrests are part of a series of disciplinary measures targeting "highly reprehensible acts related to state security." However, the army is invoking the secrecy of the investigation, which currently limits transparency regarding the precise charges and available evidence.

This latest arrest raises questions about the true extent of corruption within the Congolese army, as well as the potential political motivations behind some of the detentions. While some welcome a desire for reform and the restoration of military integrity, others denounce a selective, even politically motivated, witch hunt.

General Muhima Batechi thus joins a list of high-ranking officers recently implicated, in a context where the military justice system seems determined to crack down hard. It remains to be seen whether these proceedings will lead to exemplary convictions or whether they will become bogged down in the complexities of a judicial system often criticized for its opacity.

A turning point or a smokescreen? The question remains open. But one thing is certain: the purge within the FARDC is far from over.

Why has the UPDF 's fisheries protection unit been dissolved?

President Museveni has ordered the dissolution of the UPDF Fisheries Protection Unit after an intelligence probe found mismanagement, overfishing and alleged extortion of fishermen.

The unit’s roles have been handed over to the UPDF Marine Forces, and landing site committees have been scrapped. UPDF says the unit is now under Marine command.

Sources say Lt Col Mercy Tukahirwa, who commanded the unit, is to be redeployed, though UPDF says the unit is now under Marine Forces command.

Major General Padiri Muhizi is arrested!

 

Major General Padiri Muhizi Jonas was arrested by the relevant authorities of congolese military intelligence  during an operation conducted by the Military Anti-Patriotic Action Detection Unit (DEMIAP).

This military officer joins the ranks of several other generals arrested on charges of treason during this war.

According to Intelligence survey,While some compatriots encourage the wave of arrests of officers accused of colluding with whom they blame to be "the enemy of the government" to, "serve as an example," others see this as a weakening of the congolese army.

According to OSINT collections,it seems most of the collaborators of FARDC from Tutsi and hutu communities of  kivu are not happy at how officers from this area are being arrested yet they are the ones fighting harder more than them.

They lament that!

"Why was Masunzu was imprisoned yet  he did not engage in any fighting, allegedly because Nzibira was captured during peace talks.

One asked,don't you know Nyembo, why is he not imprisoned because Uvira was arrested?Another lamented that History shows that there were two Tutsi Colonels  who fell in the battle in Kibumba, they died, and there was a ceremony to bury them with honor in Goma.And Remember the Hutu Colonel who fell in Rugali.

It is also worth to Remember the hutu colonel who was killed in Tuonane, a.

I tell you my brother that there are no FARDC  soldiers who are so brave and fight like these hutu and Tutsi soldiers from kivu,why are they being arrested because of the fall of localities and cities,yet their own who are top commanders are not arrested?, My brother,I can tell you,we the Tutsis and hutus of kivu are tired on these impartial and unreasonable treatment. "

Is M23 forcing people to go for demonstration?

 

URA cautioned on import of starlink gadgets

Three 4 days ago we learnt that the importation of starlink devices were under intelligence  scrutiny.This was Followed by a directive to URA custom officers at all entry points not to allow importation of Star Link internet devices.

Various   reports and rumours from various sections  indicate that security operatives are now hunting for whoever has or uses the StarLink gadgets.

Intelligence reports say, the gadgets are capable of staying serving internet even if servers are switched off from mukono based statelite connections.

Many intellectuals sympathizing with government claim that such gadgets may be used by anti-gorvenment agents and bodies to disorganize the government programs especially the election period.

Many Opposition intellectuals linked to NUP claim that since there is a planned internet shut down during elections, security fears that opposition mainly National Unity Platform  may take advantage of StarLink to organise protests.

According to various OSINT(Open source intelligence) collections,they all claim that,it is CDF Muhoozi and his tough cyber intelligence group that discovered the intent of the use off these gadgets by haters of peace to use them in disrupting the running of government programs peacefully and as such all importation of such gadgets must first get authorization and clearance from the CDF.

....For God and My country ....

N.E

Trial called by the prosecution for "Treason against the Nation" against General Philémon Yav to begin this Friday at the High Military Court

 Kinshasa: 

The High Military Court announced the opening this Friday, December 19, of the trial of General Philémon Yav, who is being prosecuted on two counts. The first involves treason and inciting soldiers to commit acts contrary to their duty and discipline, while the second concerns treason and participation in an insurrection, according to the court's docket.

Lieutenant General Philémon Yav was arrested on Monday, September 19, 2022, and transferred to Makala Central Prison.

This FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) officer was in command of five provinces: North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, Maniema, and Tshopo.