Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo

DRC
Kinshasa turns to Cairo for light weapons

Egypt's Arab Organization for Industrialization defence-industrial conglomerate is supplying the Congolese army with light weapons and ammunition to meet its urgent needs.

DRC
Kilwa killing preceded by unreported army attack on village of Lwenye

There are differing versions of a June attack by the army and gamekeepers in Lwenye, a town in Haut-Katanga, during which one person was killed and 16 went missing. The provincial government insists that it was a confrontation with militiamen, while an investigation report refers to "a massacre".

DRC
Congolese air force goes prospecting in India

The Congolese military is looking to India for aircraft, with a delegation visiting New Delhi earlier this month.

DRC
Kinshasa tools up with Bulgarian and Serbian arsenals

Balkan defence suppliers are making a killing supplying second-hand tanks, light weapons and ammunition to the army of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

DRC
Army buys Uganda-made Streit armoured vehicles

The Congolese authorities have ordered 80 Streit light armoured vehicles that are manufactured in Uganda by the Ugandan army's commercial arm.

DRC
SADC boosts troop numbers in DRC to prepare for fresh battles with M23

The Southern African Development Community has deployed extra troops to its regional force in eastern DR Congo in anticipation of fresh fighting against the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group.

DRC
Military judges take over probe into alleged coup

The army inquiry is being led by Lieutenant General Likulia Bakumi.

DRC, Uganda
Kinshasa looks to end military cooperation with Kampala in east

Wary of its neighbour, whom it suspects of secretly supporting the M23 insurgency, the Tshisekedi administration is keen to see the back of the Ugandan troops deployed in eastern DRC to combat the ADF armed group.

DRC
Kinshasa to acquire six new Chinese attack drones

The DRC has taken delivery, albeit with some delay, of a second batch of three Chinese CH-4 offensive drones for transfer to the theatre of operations against the M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force in the east of the country.

DRC
DRC military boosted by Turkish armoured vehicles

Turkish armoured vehicle manufacturer Katmerciler has finalised a contract worth tens of millions of dollars with Kinshasa that had been stalled since 2020.

Botswana, South Africa
UN peacekeeping chief to talk DRC on SADC tour

Jean-Pierre Lacroix will begin a tour of three SADC countries on 21 April.

Inner Circle | DRC
SADC regional force chief Monwabisi Dyakopu walks tightrope against M23

After almost four months in charge of a regional intervention force deployed to restore peace to eastern DRC, the South African is frustrated by a shortage of men and resources. And a chronically strained relationship with MONUSCO isn't helping.

Palace Intrigues
Félix Tshisekedi, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Macky Sall, Chantal Biya

Intrigues big and small: every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

DRC/FranceTshisekedi turns down football invitation over Rwanda ads

SenegalHow Faye first learned of his election victory

CameroonChantal Biya buries the hatchet

DRC, Morocco
Kinshasa prepares for presidential visit to Rabat

An advance team of DRC officials might head to Rabat in the next few days to prepare a possible visit by President Félix Tshisekedi, in the wake of his February phone call with King Mohammed VI.

DRC
France trains a third 'jungle' battalion of Congo's army

A detachment of some sixty troops from France's military detachment in Gabon (EFG) will shortly begin training a third 'jungle' battalion of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC).