The FARDC, with about 135,000 soldiers, struggles against the M23 rebel group, which has significantly fewer fighters but receives support from Rwanda. Despite increased military spending, issues like corruption, inadequate training, outdated technology, and a culture of cronyism undermine the army’s effectiveness. Historical legacies and external influences from Rwanda complicate military reform efforts, which remain a lengthy process.
Since January, the M23 rebel movement has captured the significant cities of Goma and Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and has begun establishing a governance framework in these territories. The Congolese armed forces, known as the FARDC, reportedly consist of around 135,000 members as of 2022, with current figures likely being higher. In contrast, the M23 has only a few thousand fighters, supported by approximately 4,000 troops from Rwanda.
Despite Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi more than doubling military spending to $794 million in 2023, the FARDC has struggled against M23. Systemic corruption is a leading contributor to this issue, as highlighted by Alain De Neve from the Royal Higher Institute for Defense. He pointed to the mismanagement of funds intended for salaries and logistics, resulting in low troop morale and frequent desertions. Soldiers have even resorted to looting local populations for survival due to these dire circumstances.
Ciaran Wrons-Passmann of the German Ecumenical Network for Central Africa explained that the FARDC has evolved into a self-serving entity, where leaders enrich themselves at the cost of troop effectiveness. Furthermore, top military officers have been found to exaggerate their troop numbers, thereby receiving more funding from the central government. This process is primarily controlled through the generals, complicating the military’s operational effectiveness.
Reports indicate that FARDC is plagued by issues such as inadequate training, outdated equipment, and poor communication. While wages for soldiers were promised improvements, they still lag far behind those paid to foreign mercenaries. De Neve highlighted that FARDC must improve training and gain better tactical adaptation, as opposed to M23, which employs organized combat strategies suited for the region’s difficult terrain.
Moreover, the DRC’s military has had to contend with a culture of cronyism, where commanders are selected based on loyalty to the regime rather than competence. This has resulted in ineffective military decision-making and difficulty in establishing a cohesive command structure. Personnel rotation has plagued the army, further weakening its operational capacity and effectiveness.
Historically, under Mobutu Sese Seko and his successors, the army’s strength has been suppressed to avoid potential coups, causing a legacy of division and mistrust within the military ranks. With external influences from Rwandan military figures and factions throughout DRC’s history, the government remains wary of negotiations with M23 for fear of infiltration. This was emphasized by Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya, who noted the complex interactions arising from past military agreements.
In conclusion, President Tshisekedi has voiced concerns over the internal betrayals within the army, attributing the FARDC’s struggles to Rwandan military assistance to M23. The DRC is currently attempting to reform its armed forces, although meaningful change will take considerable time. According to Muyaya, complete military reform cannot be effectively achieved in under five years, as indicated by the ongoing challenges posed by neighboring Rwanda’s organized military.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s army, the FARDC, is facing significant challenges against the rebel M23, despite its larger size. Key issues include systemic corruption, mismanagement of resources, poor training, outdated equipment, and an entrenched culture of cronyism. With external military support from Rwanda, the FARDC is required to undergo extensive reforms to build a competent, cohesive, and effective force. However, these changes will necessitate substantial time and effort to implement successfully.
Original Source: www.dw.com
