The growing number of Congolese army personnel joining former President Joseph Kabila’s newly established Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN) is exposing deepening divisions within the Congolese military and raising serious questions about the stability of Tshisekedi’s regime.
Just two weeks after the emergence of the FRN, reports of defections among FARDC officers and soldiers have triggered growing anxiety within Tshisekedi’s criminal regime. In a move aimed at preventing further defections, Tshisekedi issued instructions restricting senior military officers and members of his regime from travelling abroad without his authorization. He feared that his army generals would join Kabila to liberate the country.
According to reports, approximately 650 FARDC soldiers have joined the FRN. Among the reported defections is Brigadier General François Kamanzi, Commander of Operations for the 12th Military Region in Kongo Central. He was followed by Colonel Dem Umba Ndolo Ghislain, the second-in-command responsible for operations and intelligence within the 61st Infantry Brigade based in Nyunzu, Tanganyika Province.
The departures continued on October 28, when Major Dem Twite Kumwimba Jean, a member of the Republican Guard, was absent from roll call and subsequently joined the FRN. On October 29, Brigadier General Germain Katanga was also reported to have joined the movement in Goma. These defections point to a significant crisis of confidence within the FARDC.
In his declaration, former President Kabila said that the DRC needs revolution, not elections. His call continues to be heard by oppressed and starved Congolese soldiers who are tired of Tshisekedi’s dictatorship, nepotism, corruption, poor conditions, unpaid salaries and inadequate support.
All these have contributed to longstanding grievances among members of the security forces. For soldiers facing these challenges, political promises of change may become increasingly appealing.
They have understood the mission and vision of the FRN. They are tired of being manipulated by Tshisekedi’s regime, and they are joining the noble cause of liberating the country from tyranny.
For Tshisekedi, the challenge is therefore no longer exclusively about confronting armed opposition. It is also about addressing the growing crisis of confidence within the institutions expected to defend his regime.
This should serve as a serious warning to Kinshasa. A regime that loses the confidence of its own security forces faces a much deeper crisis than one that merely struggles against its political opponents.
ellenkampire