The president of the DRC puts the hitherto head of the Presidential Guard at the head of the Army

Oct. 4 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, has appointed the Chief of the Presidential Guard, Thiwewe Songesha, as the new Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, within the framework of a remodeling within the Congolese Army.

Thiwewe thus replaces Célestin Mbala Munsense, who has held the position since July 2018, while Ephraim Kabi Kiriza will replace him at the head of the Presidential Guard, according to the Congolese radio station Radio Okapi.

On the other hand, Jacques Ishaligonza Nduru has been appointed as deputy chief of the Army in charge of operations, Jerome Shiko Tambwe has been appointed deputy chief of the Army General Staff in charge of operations, Christian Ndaywel Okura has been put in charge of Military Intelligence and Leon-Richard Kasonga Tshibangu has been appointed deputy chief of staff in charge of administration and logistics.

The remodeling, for which no reasons have been disclosed, takes place at a time when the Congolese Army is facing an upsurge in attacks in the east of the country, mainly at the hands of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), who have sworn allegiance to Islamic State, and the March 23 Movement (M23), which Kinshasa says is supported by Rwanda.