Land Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Congolese Army
Forces Terrestres
Founded1961
Country Democratic Republic of the Congo
BranchArmy
RoleLand warfare
Size~144,000 troops
HeadquartersKinshasa
ColorsBlue
Engagements
Commanders
FARDC chief of land forces
General Fall Sikabwe Asinda

The Land Forces (French: Forces Terrestres), also called the Congolese Army, are the land warfare component and the largest branch of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC).

The current Congolese army has its origins in the

AFDL rebel movement during the First Congo War (1996–1997). After Kabila's overthrow of Mobutu the former FAZ troops and various rebels that supported him were in no condition to fight the invasion by Rwandan-backed militant groups during the Second Congo War
(1998–2003) and largely collapsed.

The peace agreement signed in 2002 initiated the process of uniting former rebel groups in a national army, the Forces du Terrestres of the FARDC, reorganizing them into multiple

Rwandan Army
.

History

The land forces are made up of about 14 integrated

Forces de Résistance Patriotique d'Ituri (FRPI) and the Front Nationaliste Intégrationniste (FNI)) and the Mai-Mai
).

It appears that about the same time that Presidential Decree 03/042 of 18 December 2003 established the National Commission for Demobilisation and Reinsertion (CONADER), '..all ex-combatants were officially declared as FARDC soldiers and the then FARDC brigades [were to] rest deployed until the order to leave for brassage.[1]

The reform plan adopted in 2005 envisaged the formation of eighteen integrated brigades through the brassage process as its first of three stages.

Nord-Kivu, and Luberizi
(on the border with Burundi) in South Kivu. The process has suffered severe difficulties due to construction delays, administration errors, and the amount of travel former combatants have to do, as the three stages' centres are widely separated. Following the first 18 integrated brigades, the second goal is the formation of a ready reaction force of two to three brigades, and finally, by 2010 when MONUC is anticipated to have withdrawn, the creation of a Main Defence Force of three divisions.

In February 2008, the current reform plan was described as:[3]

"The short term, 2008–2010, will see the setting in place of a Rapid Reaction Force; the medium term, 2008–2015, with a Covering Force; and finally the long term, 2015–2020, with a Principal Defence Force." He added that the reform plan rests on a programme of synergy based on the four pillars of dissuasion, production, reconstruction and excellence. "The Rapid Reaction Force is expected to focus on dissuasion, through a Rapid Reaction Force of 12 battalions, capable of aiding MONUC to secure the east of the country and to realise constitutional missions," Defence Minister Chikez Diemu said.

Congolese troops in Ural-4320 trucks at the Kwanza-2010 exercises in Angola.

Amid the other difficulties in building new armed forces for the DRC, in early 2007 the integration and training process was distorted as the DRC government under Kabila attempted to use it to gain more control over the dissident general

FDLR, strains arose between the FARDC and Nkunda-loyalist troops within the brigades and they fell apart in the last days of August 2007. The International Crisis Group says that 'by 30 August [2007] Nkunda's troops had left the mixed brigades and controlled a large part of the Masisi and Rutshuru territories' (of North Kivu).[5]

Both formally integrated brigades and the non-integrated units continue to conduct arbitrary arrests, rapes, robbery, and other crimes[6] and these human rights violations are "regularly" committed by both officers and members of the rank and file. Members of the Army also often strike deals to gain access to resources with the militias they are meant to be fighting.[7]

The various brigades and other formations and units number at least 100,000 troops.[8] The status of these brigades has been described as "pretty chaotic."[9] A 2007 disarmament and repatriation study said "army units that have not yet gone through the process of brassage are usually much smaller than what they ought to be. Some non-integrated brigades have only 500 men (and are thus nothing more than a small battalion) whereas some battalions may not even have the size of a normal company (over a 100 men)."[10]

In 2015, three hundred FARDC special forces troops were deployed in northern Katanga to prevent inter-ethnic violence between Mbuti and Bantu locals.[11]

FARDC soldiers near Goma during the M23 rebellion.

Organization

Original structure

See also U.S. State Department, 07KINSHASA452 Congolese Military Proposes Redeployment, Renaming Of Integrated Brigades, 19 April 2007. Like the Force Publique in the Congo Free State, FARDC brigades have been deploying to their areas of operation with their families in tow. 2nd Commando Battalion of the Belgian Paracommando Brigade trained one of the first integrated brigades from January to June 2004.[12] As of 13 September 2006, the Government had established 13 out of the 18 integrated brigades it had planned to create before the elections. (S/2006/759, 21 September 2006, 12) A fourteenth brigade was created by March 2007. (S/2007/156, 20 March 2007, 7)

Congolese soldiers being trained by American contractors wait for instructions during training at Camp Base, Kisangani, 5 May 2010
  • 103rd Brigade (integrated)—previously designated 11th Brigade. Elements reported at
    Walungu, 110 km SW of Bukavu, South Kivu in the course of rape allegation 27 March 2007.[37]

Updates in 2014

In September 2014, President Kabila reshuffled the command structure and in addition to military regions created three new 'defense zones' which would be subordinated directly to the general staff. The defense zones essentially created a new layer between the general staff and the provincial commanders. The military regions themselves were reorganized and do not correspond with the ones that existed prior to the reshuffle.[38] A Congolese military analyst based in Brussels, Jean-Jacques Wondo, provided an outline of the updated command structure of the FARDC following the shake up of the high command:[39][40]

Chiefs of staff

Several known officers held the post of chief of land forces staff.

Foreign assistance

A number of outside donor countries are also carrying out separate training programmes for various parts of the Forces du Terrestres (Land Forces). The People's Republic of China has trained Congolese troops at Kamina in Katanga from at least 2004 to 2009,[43] and the Belgian government is training at least one 'rapid reaction' battalion.

When Kabila visited U.S. President

Special Operations Command Africa. The battalion was trained in small unit tactics, communications, medical care, and food production to sustain itself.[45]

However, in 2013, during the M23 rebel advance in eastern Congo, several members of the 391st Commando Battalion were found to have committed mass rape against civilian women fleeing from the warzone, and other atrocities.[46][47]

Republican Guard

Main article: Republican Guard (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

In addition to the other land forces, there is a Republican Guard presidential force, formerly known as the Special Presidential Security Group (GSSP). FARDC military officials state that the Garde Républicaine is not the responsibility of FARDC, but the Head of State.[48] Apart from Article 140 of the Law on the Army and Defence, no legal stipulation on the DRC's Armed Forces makes provision for the GR as a distinct unit within the national army. In February 2005, President Joseph Kabila passed a decree which appointed the GR's commanding officer and 'repealed any previous provisions contrary' to that decree. The GR is more than 10,000 strong (the ICG said 10,000–15,000 in January 2007), and has better working conditions and is paid regularly, but still commits rapes and robberies nearby their bases.

In an effort to extend his personal control across the country, then President Joseph Kabila deployed the GR at key airports, ostensibly in preparation for an impending presidential visit.

MONUC troops there.[48]

The GR is also supposed to undergo the integration process, but as of January 2007, only one battalion had been announced as being integrated. Formed at a brassage centre in the Kinshasa suburb of Kibomango, the battalion included 800 men, half from the former GSSP and half from the MLC and RCD Goma.[50]

Equipment

Main article: List of equipment of the Land Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Attempting to list the equipment available to the DRC's land forces is difficult; most figures are unreliable estimates based on known items delivered in the past. The

IISS's Military Balance 2007 and Orbat.com's Concise World Armies 2005 give only slightly differing figures however (the figures below are from the IISS Military Balance 2007). Much of the Army's equipment is non-operational due to insufficient maintenance—in 2002 only 20 percent of the Army's armoured vehicles were estimated as being serviceable.[51]

In addition to these 2007 figures, In March 2010, it was reported that the DRC's land forces had ordered US$80 million worth of military equipment from Ukraine which included 20 T-72 main battle tanks, 100 trucks and various small arms.[52][53] 20 x T-72 have been reported by World Defence Almanac. Tanks have been used in the Kivus in the 2005-9 period.

In February 2014, Ukraine revealed that it had achieved the first export order for the T-64 tank to the DRC Land Forces for 50 T-64BV-1s.[54]

Rank insignia

Main article: Military ranks of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
 Land Forces of the DR Congo
Général d'armée Lieutenant-général Général-major Général de brigade Colonel
Lieutenant-colonel
 		Major Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-lieutenant

Other forces active in the country

United Nations

A map of the Democratic Republic of the Congo marked with military map symbols showing type, nationality and location of MONUC units.
Locations of MONUC units as at December 2009

There are currently large numbers of United Nations troops stationed in the DRC. The

Lieutenant General Marc Caron also served for a time as Security Sector Reform advisor to the head of MONUC.[57]

Non and Anti-government Forces

Groups of anti-Rwandan government rebels like the FDLR, and other foreign fighters remain inside the DRC.[58] The FDLR which is the greatest concern, was some 6,000 strong, as of July 2007. By late 2010 the FDLR's strength however was estimated at 2,500.[59]

The other groups are smaller: the Ugandan

Forces Nationales de Liberation
(PALIPEHUTU-FNL).

Government Paramilitaries

Finally there is a government paramilitary force, created in 1997 under President Laurent Kabila. The National Service is tasked with providing the army with food and with training the youth in a range of reconstruction and developmental activities.[60] There is not much further information available, and no internet-accessible source details the relationship of the National Service to other armed forces bodies; it is not listed in the constitution. President Kabila, in one of the few comments available, says National Service will provide a gainful activity for street children. Obligatory civil service administered through the armed forces was also proposed under the Mobutu regime during the 'radicalisation' programme of December 1974-January 1975; the FAZ was opposed to the measure and the plan 'took several months to die.'[61]

References

  1. S2CID 154957722
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  2. ^ a b c International Crisis Group, Security Sector Reform in the Congo, Africa Report No. 104, 13 February 2006, 17–18
  3. ^ Retrieved 1 November 2008
  4. ^ Henri Boshoff, The DDR Process in the DRC: a never-ending story, Institute for Security Studies, Pretoria, 2 July 2007
  5. ^ International Crisis Group, Bringing Peace to North Kivu, Africa Report No.133, 31 October 2007, p.13
  6. ^ Amnesty International, "Democratic Republic of Congo: Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) and Reform of the Army - Amnesty International". Archived from the original on 2007-08-21. Retrieved 2007-07-13. Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) and the Reform of the Army], 25 January 2007, AI Index: AFR 62/001/2007
  7. ^ Autesserre, Séverine (2008). "The Trouble With Congo". Foreign Affairs. 87 (3). New York: Council on Foreign Relations: 104–105.
  8. ^ "monuc.org: FARDC troops estimated at 100,000, says EUSEC ::: 20/03/2006". Monuc.org. Archived from the original on 2007-10-13. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  9. ^ "Only just staying in one piece". The Economist. 28 July 2007. p. 42. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  10. ^ Hans Romkena De Vennhoop Opportunities and Constraints for the Disarmament and Repatriation of Foreign Armed Groups in the DRC Archived 2009-01-01 at the Wayback Machine, Multi Country Demobilization and Recovery Program, April 2007, p.32
  11. ^ Special Forces of the Congo (FARDC) Deployed in Northern Katanga Archived 2017-12-15 at the Wayback Machine. Virungamountains.blogspot.com. Published 25 May 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  12. ^ 12_fr.htm Archived 2011-05-14 at the Wayback Machine. Cdomuseum.be. Retrieved on 2013-09-04.
  13. ^ Clement, SSR in the DRC, SSR in Challenging Environments, DCAF, 2009, 92.
  14. ^ MONUC Human Rights report Archived 2007-12-17 at the Wayback Machine April 2007, paragraph 31 and MONUC via Le Potential Violation des droits de l’homme en RDC: état des lieux de la Monuc Archived 2015-06-10 at the Wayback Machine, 10 August 2007
  15. MONUC via Reliefweb, RD Congo : Rapport mensuel des droits de l'homme - juillet 2007
    , paragraph 14
  16. ^ MONUC Human Rights Report via Le Potentiel Archived 2015-06-10 at the Wayback Machine Le Potentiel, 18 April 2007
  17. ^ a b c MONUC's Nineteenth Report (S/2005/603) dated 26 September 2005, 7
  18. ^ MONUC Human Rights Report July 2007 (French), paragraph 11
  19. ^ Quoted from MONUC 21st Report, S/2006/390, 13 June 2006, 9. See also U.S. State Department, 06KINSHASA178, FARDC Second Brigade To Move To North Kivu Archived 2014-04-07 at the Wayback Machine 2 February 2006
  20. MONUC via Le Potentiel (Kinshasa), Congo-Kinshasa: Violation des droits de l'homme en RDC Archived 2011-09-26 at the Wayback Machine
    , 22 June 2007
  21. ^ a b International Crisis Group, Congo:Bringing Peace to North Kivu, 31 October 2007, p.12
  22. ^ "(French). Retrieved July 2009". Archived from the original on 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  23. ^ "Les Dépęches". Lepotentiel.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  24. ^ MONUC, Droits de l'Homme: Rapport Mensuel - Mai 2007 Archived 2007-10-13 at the Wayback Machine, paragraph 22
  25. ^ Societecivile.cd, Imminence d'une mutinerie à Luberizi, à l'Est de la RD Congo, dans la Province du Sud Kivu Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, 23 May 2007
  26. ^ 06KINSHASA1260, 10 August 2006, and Turner, 2007, 139.
  27. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Situation humanitaire en RDC (Sud Kivu) - Rapport hebdomadaire du 30 juin au 06 juillet 2007
    , 6 July 2007
  28. ^ MONUC via Congo Tribune, "Violation des droits de l'homme en RDC : état des lieux de la Monuc". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
  29. ^ MONUC, http://www.monuc.org/news.aspx?newsID=15189 Archived 2007-12-17 at the Wayback Machine
  30. ^ MONUC, http://www.monuc.org/news.aspx?newsID=14799 Archived 2007-10-13 at the Wayback Machine, paragraph 25
  31. ^ 'Central Africa: A slow road to travel,' Africa Confidential, 11 January 2008, Vol. 49, No.1, p.9
  32. ISBN 978-1-56432-510-5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-06-23. Retrieved 2016-12-04.. See also U.S. State Department, 08KINSHASA441 : The FARDC 14th Brigade: A Burden to Kabare Residents Archived 2012-03-18 at the Wayback Machine
    , 19 May 2008
  33. MONUC via allafrica.com at Congo-Kinshasa: La Monuc a rendu hommages aux 85 soldats de la paix décédés en RDC depuis le début de sa mission Archived 2012-02-05 at the Wayback Machine
  34. ^ See also on 12th and 13th Battalions of 17th Brigade - Congo-Kinshasa: Second Monuc Training Session of FARDC Integrated Brigades Ends(06:Feb'08) Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine
  35. ^ Radio Okapi May 2009, "Nindja : attaques des FDLR, 2 officiers FARDC tués et un disparu"
  36. ^ Reliefweb and MONUC Archived 2008-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
  37. ^ Le Potential, Congo-Kinshasa: Rapport de la Monuc pour avril 2007, graves violations des droits de l'homme en RDC Archived 2011-09-26 at the Wayback Machine via Allafrica.com, 21 May 2007. There is an ambiguous reference to the 'eleventh and twelfth brigades' in the ICG's 31 October 2007 report, 'Bringing Peace to North Kivu, Appendix C, page 25, indicating that these two formations may have been principally raised from the all-Hutu Local Defence Force in North Kivu, revived by Governor Eugene Serufuli, probably during the 2000–2002 period.
  38. ^ Reshuffle in the Congolese army – cui bono? Archived 2018-03-05 at the Wayback Machine. Suluhu.org. Published 28 September 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  39. ^ Commanders of defense zones and military zones as of September 2014 Archived 2015-01-10 at the Wayback Machine.
  40. ^ "List of general officers appointed to the heads of military units" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-01-10. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
  41. ^ Rogue army for a failed state Archived 2015-03-19 at the Wayback Machine Good Governance Africa. Published February 1, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  42. ^ Joseph Kabila meets with security council Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine Digital Congo. Published 5 November 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  43. ^ See Africa Confidential, 'A multinational road to army reform,' 24 July 2009, p.9, and Reuters, 'Factbox: International efforts at military reform in Congo,' 23 December 2009.
  44. ^ "U.S. Africa Command Home". Archived from the original on 2011-02-26. Retrieved 2010-08-03. and Protection Strategies Incorporated What's New Archived 2010-07-30 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 August 2010. For Kabila request to Bush, see "Cable Viewer". Archived from the original on 2012-03-18. Retrieved 2011-09-03..
  45. US Army Africa
    website. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  46. ^ Orth, Rick (23 May 2013). Stars and Stripes Op-ed: More U.S. can do to reform Congolese military Archived 2017-12-15 at the Wayback Machine. Enough Project. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  47. Washington Post
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  48. ^ a b Amnesty International, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) and the Reform of the Army Archived 2007-08-21 at the Wayback Machine, Section VII A, 25 January 2007, AI Index: AFR 62/001/2007
  49. ^ ICG February 2006 SSR report
  50. ^ 'Sortie officielle du premier bataillon integre de la Garde Republicaine des FARDC', Xinhua News Agency, 15 September 2006, cited in Amnesty International DRC Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) and the Reform of the Army Archived 2007-08-21 at the Wayback Machine, Section VII A, 25 January 2007, AI Index: AFR 62/001/2007
  51. ^ Jane's Sentinel Security Assessment—Central Africa. Issue 11—2002. Page 291.
  52. ^ AFP: Ukraine to supply tanks, other weapons to DR.Congo Archived 2014-02-26 at the Wayback Machine. Google.com (2010-03-16). Retrieved on 2013-09-04.
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  54. ^ Ukraine to supply a total of 50 T-64BV1 main battle tanks to Democratic Republic of Congo Archived 2014-03-03 at the Wayback Machine - Armyrecognition.com, 13 February 2014
  55. ^ "MONUSCO Facts and Figures - United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo". un.org. Archived from the original on 2011-10-15. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
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  57. ^ Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, website
  58. ^ International Crisis Group, Congo: Consolidating the Peace, Africa Report No.128, 5 July 2007
  59. ^ MONUSCO, Over 1800 FDLR armed rebels surrender to MONUSCO in 2010 Archived 2011-10-31 at the Wayback Machine, 3 February 2011
  60. ^ Jacques Ebenga & Thierry N'Landu The Congolese National Army: In search of an identity Archived 2007-07-24 at the Wayback Machine, Evolutions and Revolutions, Institute for Security Studies, Pretoria, 2005
  61. ^ Crawford and Young, The Rise and Decline of the Zairiean State, 1985, p.359-360
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