** Analysis of the formation of FARDC artillerymen: context and perspectives **
On May 20, a significant step was taken for the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) with the end of the first promotion of artillerymen at the Lieutenant-General Bahuma training center in Kisangani. This initiative, promising to strengthen the army capacities, raises several questions about its context, its impact and its scope.
### A scalable security context
The Democratic Republic of Congo has long been faced with complex security challenges, exacerbated by persistent conflicts and regional tensions. The formation of artillerymen in war tactics with heavy artillery is part of a desire to modernize and professionalize the armed forces, an imperative in the face of insecurity. The military authorities, represented by Brigadier General Mbunga Modeste, stressed the importance of discipline and the uniqueness of command, two qualities deemed essential on the ground.
### Discipline as military philosophy
The call for discipline, pronounced by the second commander of the 3rd defense zone, is indicative of the Ambitions of the FARDC. It highlights a shared concern: the need for rigorous conduct within the armed forces. The mention of restrictions on the use of phones during operations highlights the desire to preserve operational security. This nevertheless raises questions about the degree of preparation of the military, both strategically and technologically.
### Deliberate training: a strategically calculated choice
The choice not to reveal the number of soldiers trained for “strategic reasons” raises the question of transparency in the communication of Congolese military institutions. Although this approach can be justified by national security considerations, it could also cause doubts about the desire to account for the advances and challenges encountered by the FARDC. In the context of a state in the grip of internal power struggles, this could fuel negative perceptions or skepticism around the reforms committed.
## towards an evaluation of efficiency
The issuance of a training certificate is formal recognition, but the effectiveness of this training should be judged in the field under real conflict conditions. What will be the deployment conditions of these new artillerymen? Will they be sufficiently supported by adequate material and logistical resources? These are crucial questions to which it will be necessary to answer to assess the true scope of this investment in training.
### Consider the future: what prospects?
Staying vigilant on the implementation of lessons learned from this training will be essential. The FARDC face an operational environment full of challenges, ranging from threats to external aggression to internal problems of cohesion and membership in military values. The commitment to work on the discipline and the body of the troops is a good starting point, but this must be accompanied by continuous efforts to guarantee the integrity, morality and professionalization of forces.
In addition, a more open dialogue with civil society and international partners could promote a better understanding of the military and security issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This would echo the need to support these training courses with a more global reflection on security, development and governance, in order to ensure long -term stability and peace.
In short, the first promotion of FARDC artillerymen represents an important advance, but it must be part of a global and inclusive approach to really participate in a lasting change. The challenge is to build an army that is not only effective on the operational level, but also a vector of peace and social cohesion in a country where injuries of the past continue to influence the present.