President Félix Tshisekedi of DR Congo made major changes to the military leadership on Thursday, December 19, removing the army chief. Lt Gen Jules Banza Mwilambwe is the new Chief of General Staff of the Congolese armed forces. He replaced Gen Christian Tshiwewe, who had held the post for just over two years. ALSO READ: M23 says DR Congo army ignoring de-escalation initiative Tshiwewe has been appointed adviser to the head of State, according to a presidential decree read on state broadcaster RTNC TV on Thursday evening, which said that the change was made out of “necessity and urgency.” Mwilambwe was deputy head of the Military House of the Head of State, in charge of operations and intelligence. The Military House is a structure within the army that reports to the head of State and assists him in developing and organising defence and security policy. The Congolese President also effected wide-ranging changes within the army and within the Republican Guard, the presidential security unit. ALSO READ: M23 rebels seize more territory in eastern DR Congo Gen Pacifique Masunzu was appointed commander of the zone covering North Kivu province, where the Congolese army is currently at war with M23 rebels. Masunzu replaced Gen Chico Tshitambwe, who moved to the First Defence Zone, which includes the city of Kinshasa and several provinces in the west of the country. Maj Gen Clement Bitangalo took command of the Second Defence Zone. The head of military intelligence, General Christian Ndaywel, has been appointed Chief of General Staff of the Land Force. Maj Gen Jean Roger Makombo has been appointed Chief of Military Intelligence. ALSO READ: M23 claims capture of FDLR strongholds Brig Gen Jean Bertemance Mulume has been appointed Deputy Chief of Operations, while Brig Gen Mbuyi Tshivuadi has been appointed Deputy Chief of Administration. Lt Gen Jacques Nduru has been reappointed Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Intelligence, while Gen François Kabamba wa Kasanda has been appointed Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Logistics and Administration. Many other appointments have been made within the Republican Guard. The appointments to the Congolese army come at a time when the M23 rebels are capturing territories in North Kivu. On Monday and Tuesday, the rebels advanced on a number of towns, approaching Butembo, a major commercial centre in North Kivu. The Congolese government acknowledged the rebel advance, but explained that the Congolese army had made a strategic withdrawal.
