The Congolese army reaffirms its loyalty to Félix Tshisekedi
In a tense political context in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Congolese army reaffirmed its loyalty to President Félix Tshisekedi during a motivational meeting organized by the chief of general staff of the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC), General Christian Tshiwewe.
This meeting comes following the media outing of the fugitive general, John Numbi, who had made threats against President Tshisekedi and called on the army to no longer recognize his authority if the preconditions set by the opposition for credible elections were not respected.
Thus, during this meeting, General Tshiwewe did not mention the name of John Numbi, but he clearly reiterated the oneness of command by reminding his soldiers that they had only one leader, namely President Tshisekedi. He also warned against attempts to collaborate with the “enemy” and encouraged the military to be vigilant and report any suspicions.
As the elections approach, General Tshiwewe stressed the importance of remaining on alert to monitor the activities of candidates, highlighting the distrust necessary even within the same institution. He also recalled the specific mission of the army vis-à-vis the electoral commission, namely to support its work so that it can fulfill its tasks in peace and publish the results with complete serenity.
In addition, General Tshiwewe announced the upcoming deployment of new units which have just completed their training, thus strengthening the operational capabilities of the Congolese army.
This demonstration of loyalty by the army towards President Tshisekedi is an important step in a delicate political climate in the DRC. It demonstrates the army’s desire to support the ongoing electoral process and guarantee the stability of the country.