Military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo-Zaire

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Revision as of 15:55, 20 December 2007

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo-Zaire (French: Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo-Zaïre (FARDCZ)) is the state military organization responsible for defending the Democratic Republic of Congo-Zaire. The FARDCZ is being rebuilt amid the process of ending a brutal civil war which has killed and maimed millions and continues without end.

The FARDCZ is dominated by its land forces but also includes a small air force and a smaller navy. Due to the small number of active troops, most soldiers are trained to be active in the army, air force, and navy. The National Congolese Police (PNC) are not part of the Armed Forces. With the new govenment each solder can be identified by the FARDCZ Command in Kinshasa

The government in the capital city Kinshasa and the country's bilateral partners are attempting to create a viable force with the ability to provide the DRC with stability and security. Despite the fact the current govenment controls very little of the DRoCZ the two provinces they do control are far more secure then anywhere else in the country, and on par with a first world nation for safety.

On December 3, 2007, the military once took again took center stage in the political arena with the ascent to power of General Kabika Tshinyama via a bloodless coup d'état. Tshinyama has promised to restore peace, stamp out corruption, democratize the country, and revive the economy, but the task ahead of him is a daunting one, and it remains to be seen how committed he is to his promises.

Command Structure

The command structure of the armed forces is unknown; however, General Kabika Tshinyama simultaneously serves as the supreme commander of the Army, Navy, and Air Force of the military that remains loyal to him.

Land Forces

Comprising an estimated 4,000 personnel (the vast majority of the military is outside control of the central government), reforming the Land Forces ranks high on General Tshinyama's list of priorities for the country. The new army runs under strict rules, with curfews, daily training drills, and a total ban on alochol and tobacco (the tobacco ban is lifted if the unit in question is in a siege). Because of the strict rules in the army, the rate of application is small, however, it is also well paid, and the new base being built outside Kinshasa is helping to drive up the size of the armed forces.

Shortly after General Tshinyama's coup, the Empire of Brazil donated several retired vehicles (still operable and in excellent condition) for use by the Congolese military; they are in the process of being delivered. The following vehicles are being delivered:

• 128 Leopard 1A1 main battle tanks
• 91 M60A3 main battle tanks
• 112 M41B/C Walker Bulldog light tanks
• 409 EE-9 Cascavel armored cars
• 213 EE-11 Urutu armored personnel carriers
• 584 M113A1 armored personnel carriers

Aside from Brazil's donation, most of the country's hardware is believed to include the following (note that the numbers listed are only estimates, and cannot be verified):

• 30 Type 59 main battle tanks
• 20 T-55 main battle tanks
• 40+ Type 62 light tanks
• 40+ Panhard AML armored cars
• 20 BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles
• Unspecified number of the following armored personnel carriers: M113, Type 63, Casspir, M-3 Panhard, TH 390 Fahd, Wolf Turbo 2
• Unspecified number of M116 75mm pack howitzers
• Unspecified number of D-30 122mm howitzers
• 30 multiple rocket launchers (type unknown)

The quantity and serviceability of most of this equipment is not known, but most reports estimate numbers to be low, and quality even lower. It is thought that after the donated Brazilian armor made its way to the DRoCZ, most of the original equipment was scrapped; however, some of it may have fallen into rebels hands, although this cannot be verified.

Navy

The state of the Navy - long neglected and allowed to fall into decline bordering on disrepair - is said to be 'in a state of near total disarray.' The Navy has approximately 1,000 personnel, and a total of 8 patrol craft, of which only one is operational, a Shanghai II Type 062 class gunboat designated 102. There are also five other Shanghai II Type 062s along with 2 Swiftships which are currently non-operational, though some of these ships may be restored to service in the future. The Navy also operates barges and small patrol craft armed with machine guns.

Air Force

All military aircraft in the DRC are operated by the Air Force, which has an estimated strength of 1,800 personnel and is organised into two Air Groups. These Groups command five wings and nine squadrons, of which not all are operational. 1 Air Group is located at Kinshasa and consists of Liaison Wing, Training Wing and Logistical Wing and has a strength of five squadrons. 2 Tactical Air Group is located at Kaminia and consists of Pursuit and Attack Wing and Tactical Transport Wing and has a strength of four squadrons.

Like the other services, the Congolese Air Force is not capable of carrying out its responsibilities. Few of the Air Force's aircraft are currently flyable or capable of being restored to service and it is unclear whether the Air Force is capable of maintaining even unsophisticated aircraft; exceptions to his rule are the relatively new (and in pristine condition) aircraft given to the country by Brazil.

As of December 2007, the Air Force is believed to include the following aircraft:

• 8 Aermacchi MB 326GB trainers
• 6 Aermacchi MB 326K light attack aircraft
• 2 Aérospatiale Alouette III SA 316B utility helicopters
• 4 Aérospatiale Puma SA 330 transport helicopters
• 28 AMX International AMX-ATA attack aircraft (recently delivered by Brazil)
• 1 Antonov An-26 tactical transport
• 1 Britten-Norman Islander BN-2A utility transport
• 12 Cessna 150 utility aircraft
• 3 Cessna 310 utility aircraft
• 2 de Havilland Canada DHC-5D Buffalo tactical transports
• 4 Douglas C-47 tactical transports
• 21 Embraer AT-27 Tucano light attack aircraft (recently delivered by Brazil)
• 19 Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano light attack/counterinsurgency aircraft (recently delivered by Brazil)
• 8 Embraer P-95 maritime patrol aircraft (recently delivered by Brazil)
• 8 Embraer P-99 maritime patrol aircraft (recently delivered by Brazil)
• 1 Eurocopter Cougar AS 332 transport helicopter
• 2 Lockheed C-130H tactical transports
• 1 Mikoyan MiG-23MS fighter
• 1 Mikoyan MiG-23UB fighter
• 6 Mil Mi-35 attack helicopters
• 1 Mil Mi-26 transport helicopter
• 5 Neiva Regente 420L Air Observation Posts (recently delivered by Brazil)
• 10 Reims Cessna 337 FTB 337 MILROLE liaison aircraft
• 4 Sukhoi Su-25K attack aircraft

Brazil has promised to provide more aircraft, possibly including new Embraer C-390 medium transports, in the near future.

Republican Guard

In addition to the other branches of the armed forces, there is a Republican Guard presidential force, formerly known as the Special Presidential Security Group (GSSP). FARDCZ military officials state that the Garde Républicaine is not the responsibility of FARDC, but the Head of State. Apart from Article 140 of the Law on the Army and Defence, no legal stipulation on the DRC's Armed Forces makes provision for the GR as a distinct unit within the national army. In February 2005, former President Joseph Kabila passed a decree which appointed the GR's commanding officer and 'repealed any previous provisions contrary' to that decree. The GR is more than 10,000 strong, and has better working conditions and is paid regularly, but still commits rapes and robberies nearby their bases.