The new head of the Congolese army was sworn in on Monday before President Tshisekedi, promising to defend the country’s territorial integrity threatened by rebel groups on the border with Rwanda.
Lieutenant General Jules Banza Mwilambwe took command of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC). He was officially installed in his position on Monday by President Félix Tshisekedi, during a ceremony broadcast live by the media.
After receiving the honors and the Congolese flag, he raised his right hand to take the oath of “ defend the independence, sovereignty and integrity of the national territory against any form of threat, invasion or aggression, and this up to the supreme sacrifice ».
A trained artillery officer, Jules Banza Mwilambwe succeeds army general Christian Tshiwewe Songesha, dismissed in mid-December after two years at the head of the FARDC. The latter was appointed military advisor to President Tshisekedi.
The Congolese head of state also made other appointments within the army in a context marked by an increase in violence in the east of the country and the progression of the M23, a rebel group accused by Kinshasa and several international sources to benefit from support from Rwanda.
-In addition to the reconquest of territories occupied by the M23, Lieutenant General Banza will have to take up the challenge of restoring security in regions plagued by conflict while working to modernize the FARDC.
ODL/te/APA
Canada
