Challenges Faced by DR Congo’s Army Against M23 Rebels

The M23 rebel group has seized control of key cities in the DRC, despite the FARDC’s larger size. Factors contributing to the FARDC’s struggles include systemic corruption, inadequate funding, poor training, and cronyism. Military support from Rwanda further complicates the situation, posing challenges for the DRC in reforming its armed forces amid historical legacies of division and insecurity.

Since January, the M23 rebel group has taken control of Goma and Bukavu, vital cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Congolese armed forces (FARDC) numbered approximately 135,000 soldiers in 2022, but this figure is believed to have grown. In contrast, the United Nations estimates that the M23 comprises only a few thousand fighters, supported by roughly 4,000 Rwandan soldiers.

In an effort to strengthen the military, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi increased military expenditure to $794 million in 2023. This raises concerns as to how M23 has acquired significant territories within eastern DRC. “One of the main factors explaining the weakness of the FARDC lies in systemic corruption,” stated Alain De Neve, a researcher at the Royal Higher Institute for Defense in Brussels, referencing reports about misappropriated funds intended for soldiers’ salaries and logistics.

“Numerous reports have highlighted the disappearance of funds intended for soldiers’ salaries and military logistics,” De Neve elaborated. Consequently, troop morale is severely impacted, leading to desertions. In some circumstances, soldiers in the eastern territories resort to looting and extortion as a means of survival. Ciaran Wrons-Passmann, of the German Ecumenical Network for Central Africa, remarked that the FARDC has developed a “self-service shop” environment contributing to the enrichment of military leaders.

Moreover, senior FARDC officers in eastern DRC have been found misrepresenting troop numbers to secure more funding, as highlighted by Jakob Kerstan from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. “Because they then also receive more funding from Kinshasa,” Kerstan noted. Inadequate training, equipment, and communication further exacerbate these issues, leading Reuters to describe FARDC as “a fighting force hobbled by entrenched problems such as poor pay and corruption that reform efforts have failed to resolve.”

Though reforms under Tshisekedi promised better pay for soldiers, these wages remain significantly lower than those offered to mercenaries. This disparity affects troop morale and operational efficiency according to Wrons-Passmann. “You work with other players who you think are better suited. That undermines the esprit de corps,” he explained. Additionally, De Neve stressed the “chronic deficit in training and equipment” faced by FARDC, unlike M23 which benefits from tactical training and proper organization.

The challenges facing DRC’s military are further complicated by widespread cronyism, as De Neve described an unwillingness to delegate authority to competent officers. “Military commanders are not always selected based on their competence, but rather according to their loyalty to the regime,” he stated. This undermines tactical decision-making amid a high turnover of military leadership.

Historically, the DRC’s military has been influenced by former leaders who feared a strong army could stage a coup. As Kerstan noted, even the late President Mobutu Sese Seko intentionally prevented the army from gaining strength. While Charles and Joseph Kabila’s regimes also faced infiltration by foreign military forces, the government’s reluctance to negotiate with M23 stems from fears of further infiltration.

President Tshisekedi asserted that the military had been “betrayed from within” and criticized his predecessor for failing to reform the armed forces. “Some members of the armed forces lacked a sense of duty to the nation,” according to his office. The FARDC’s challenges in defeating M23 are compounded by military support from Rwanda, which Wrons-Passmann characterized as “extremely well organized.”

Despite ongoing discussions about reforming the military, progress is slow. Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya acknowledged the enormity of the task at hand, stating, “You cannot think that you can solve, finish all the reform […] for the army in five years.” The urgency of change has been highlighted by events in the region, indicating a need for a more stable and competent military force.

The ongoing struggles faced by the Democratic Republic of Congo’s armed forces (FARDC) against the M23 rebel group highlight significant issues regarding military efficiency, systemic corruption, and inadequate support structures. As the FARDC deals with internal challenges, including low morale and ineffective leadership, the influence of foreign support and historical fears of military strength continue to complicate the situation. Thus, critical reforms and strategic leadership changes are essential to strengthen the DRC’s military capacity.

Original Source: www.dw.com