President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo has dismissed Armed Forces Chief of Staff Christian Tshiwewe Songesha and replaced him with Lieutenant-General Jules Banza Mwilambwe in a sweeping military reshuffle.
State television announced the changes on Thursday, describing it as one of the most significant shake-ups in years. The restructuring also saw the replacement of the head of military intelligence and numerous senior commanders, including those overseeing security operations in the volatile eastern regions.
The move comes as the country grapples with intensified conflict in North Kivu province, where the M23 rebel group continues to destabilize the area despite a ceasefire agreement.
This reshuffle is the first major overhaul since October 2022, when Tshisekedi named Tshiwewe as part of reforms aimed at improving the armed forces. However, fighting has persisted, and diplomatic efforts to resolve the M23 crisis, including with neighboring Rwanda, have faltered.
Congo and the United Nations have accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 insurgency with troops and weapons, claims Rwanda has consistently denied.
