Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has appointed a former Commander of the Republican Guard, Christian Tshiwewe Songhesha to replace Celestin Mbala Musense as the Army Chief of Staff.
It was gathered that the reshuffle was part of broader military reforms aimed at boosting efficiency.
Recall that Congo’s army is fighting multiple armed groups, mainly in its restive east where ethnic militias, Islamist fighters, and other rebel groups are battling for control near the borders with Uganda and Rwanda.
The government made this public through a statement and stated, “The Former commander of the Republican Guard, an elite unit in charge of protecting the head of state, Christian Tshiwewe Songhesha has replaced Célestin Mbala Musense as the army chief of staff”.
Further, the President’s Deputy Director of Communications, Giscard Kusema said, “Almost all the entire staff has been replaced by young officers. Several are from the Republican Guard, but not all, and that’s because they have proven themselves”.
The wave of appointments is part of a broader framework of military reform, Kusema told Reuters. A new military programming law was recently drawn up for the period 2022-25.
“For years, all the experts have been asking for a military programming law that gives more financial autonomy to the army and flexibility in procedures,” Kusema added.
