MAJOR RE-SHUFFLE OF MILITARY AND POLICE LEADERSHIP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 000671 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ASEC KPKO MOPS PINR CG SUBJECT: MAJOR RE-SHUFFLE OF MILITARY AND POLICE LEADERSHIP REF: KINSHASA 655 ¶1. (U) As reported reftel, President Joseph Kabila ordered a major shake-up of the Congolese military (FARDC) in a decree issued late June 12. Nearly all top commanders, including FARDC Chief of Defense Staff Lt. General Kisempia and Air Forces Commander General John Numbi, were removed from their positions. The one notable exception is General Gabriel Amisi (ex-ANC),who will retain his post as FARDC Land Forces Commander. ¶2. (SBU) Many of those who were removed from the top positions were reassigned with the exception of Kisempia, whose future remains unknown, although it is expected he will retire. As reported reftel, Numbi was appointed Police Inspector General; former Naval Forces Commander Maj. General Amuli Bahigua (ex-MLC) is now the FARDC's Chief of Operations; former FARDC Intelligence Chief General Didier Etumba (ex-FAC) was promoted to Vice Admiral and appointed Commander of Naval Forces; former Chief of Operations General Bahuma Ambamba (ex-MLC) is now the regional military commander in Bas-Congo province; and Chief of Logisitcs General Malik Kijege (ex-ANC) will become the FARDC's Deputy Inspector General. ¶3. (U) Other notable appointments in the FARDC include: -- Maj. General Rigobert Massamba (ex-FAC),a former commander of the Kitona air base, as Air Forces Commander; -- Colonel Marcel Ekuba, commander of the 1st Integrated Brigade in Ituri District, as Deputy Chief of Operations; -- Brig. General Kitenge Tundwa (ex-FAC),head of the DRC's National Service, as Chief of Military Intelligence; -- Brig. General Mbuayama Nsiona, regional military commander in Bas-Congo and formerly in Ituri, as Chief of Logistics; -- Brig. General Jean-Claude Kifwa, commander of the Republican Guard, as a regional military commander; -- Brig. General Patrick Masunzu, a pro-Kabila Munyamluenge commander from the High Plateau region of Minembwe, as Deputy Regional Military Commander of South Kivu; -- Colonel Shulungu Nembeso (ex-FAC),commander of the Luberizi training facility, as commander of the FARDC's Military Integration Structure; -- Brig. General Bundja Mabe, former Kintona base commaner and regional military commander in South Kivu, as commander of Kamina air base in Katanga; -- Brig. General Mustapha Mukiza (ex-MLC),regional military commander in Bandundu, as commander of the Kitona training base in Bas-Congo. ¶4. (U) Several new appointments within the national police and intelligence services were also announced. As noted, Numbi will replace General Daniel Katsuva as Inspector General. The deputy police inspector for operations and intelligence will be General Alongaboni, a former adviser to Jean-Pierre Bemba who held a similar position in the FARDC, while the deputy inspector for administration will be Charles Bisengimana. Colonel Chalwe Raus, head of police special services and the Kin-Maziere prison in Kinshasa, will assume the position of provincial police inspector general in Bas-Congo. Raus is being replaced by Colonel Union Vagba. The new head of the National Intellgence Agency (ANR) is Daruwezi Mukombe, a security adviser to President Kabila, who replaces Mira Ndjoku. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: It is too early to tell how effective any of these changes will be in reforming the military, as the problems besetting the FARDC are profound and multi-faceted. Most of the appointees appear to be competent military commanders, though it is worth noting many of them have ties to Kabila or his father. The long-expected removal of Kisempia in particular is an overdue step towards creating a more professional army. End comment. ¶6. (U) Below is a list of key personnel appointments in the FARDC, national police, and intelligence services, according to President Kabila's June 12 decree: ARMED FORCES OF THE DRC (FARDC) -------------- Chief of Defense Staff: Lt. General Dieudonne Kayembe Mbandakulu Land Forces Commander: General Gabriel Amisi Kumba Deputy Land Forces Commander (Operations): Colonel Ngonga Bulamba KINSHASA 00000671 002 OF 003 Deputy Land Forces Commander (Administration and Logistics): Colonel Mbiato Konzoli Air Forces Commander: Maj. General Rigobert Massamba Musungu Deputy Air Forces Commander (Operations): Colonel Enoch Numbi Ngoy Deputy Air Forces Commander (Administration and Logistics): Colonel Yambuya Baruti Naval Forces Commander: Vice Admiral Didier Etumba Longila Deputy Naval Forces Commander (Operations): Rear Admiral Emmanuel Kabuiki Deputy Naval Forces Commander (Administration and Logistics): Captain Buenze Safan Inspector General: Lt. General Francois Olenga Deputy Inspector General (Operations): Brig. General Malik Kijege Deputy Inspector General (Administration and Logisitics): Brig. General Sumi Mungapa Chief of Operations: Maj. General Dieudonne Amuli Bahigua Deputy Chief of Operations: Colonel Marcel Ekuba Mondo Chief of Military Intelligence: Brig. General Kitenge Tundwa Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence: Colonel Jean-Paul Mfinda Nzolameso Chief of Logisitics: Brig. General Mbuayama Nsiona Deputy Chief of Logistics: Colonel Jean-Luc Ijila Chief of Administration: Brig. General Celestin Mbala Musense Deputy Chief of Administration: Colonel Sinforose Kabuanda Kasewu Secretary General of Defense: Rear Admiral Damas Kabulo SIPDIS Secretary General for Ex-Combatants: Colonel Zebede Kasangana SIPDIS Mbengu Chief Counsel to the Auditor's Office: Brig. General Unkoto Kiyana Kim Chief of the High Military Court: Brig. General Delphin Nyembo Yabuzilu Auditor General: Brig. General Joseph Konde Isambwa Regional Military Commanders: Brig. General Constant Ndima Brig. General Jean Makoma Bana Brig. General Michel Ekutshu Wazanga Brig. General Obedi Wabasira Brig. General Bahuma Ambama Brig. General Padiri Bulenda Brig. General Kasereka Sindani Brig. General Vainqueur Mayala Brig. General Jean-Claude Kifwa Brig. General Sylvain Tshikwej Brig. General Prosper Nabiolwa Deputy Regional Military Commanders (Operations and Intelligence): Colonel Bolingo Matani Wabubi Colonel Tshisebue Visa Brig. General Janvier Mayanga Buatishuba Colonel Jean-PIerre Bonguangele Brig. General Kabamba wa Kabambi Colonel Paul Lenge Muela Brig. General Floribert Kisembo Colonel Delphin Kahimbi Kansague Brig. General Leon Mushale Tshitamba Brig. General Patrick Masunzu Colonel Tshikabue Fal Deputy Regional Military Commanders (Administration and Logistics): Colonel Kongolo a Kongolo Colonel Botamba Ali Pepe Colonel Mulunda Moombe Colonel Baloko Bian Colonel Seraphin Zirimani Colonel Malekera Bolungu Sian Colonel Sadiki Feruzi Colonel Dieudonne Kitenge Amisi Colonel Tambuka Bamei Urbin KINSHASA 00000671 003 OF 003 Colonel Baudoin Nyakabaka Lt. Col. Michel Mabondani Shora Coordinator of the Military Integration Structure (SMI): Colonel Shulungu Nembeso SMI Deputy Coordinator (Operations): Colonel Fungula Katutu SMI Deputy Coordinator (Administration and Logisitics): Colonel Jonny Luboya Ituri Operations Commander: Brig. General Kinkela Kabua Deputy Ituri Operations Commander (Operations and Intelligence): Colonel Abdallah Nyembo Deputy Ituri Operations Commander (Administration and Logisitics): Colonel Molimbi Lufungula Commander, Officer Training School: Maj. General Lukama Musikani Commander, Central Logistics Base: Brig. General Martin Mukalayi Kabimbi Deputy Commander, Logistics Base (Logistics): Colonel Dieudonne Lutalakabubi Deputy Commander, Logistics Base (Administration and Finances): Colonel Nyembo Kufi Chancellor of the National Order of Heros: Brig. General Joachim Mabiala Secretary General of the National Order of Heros: Colonel SIPDIS Ilunga Atsho Commander, Kamina Military Base: Brig. General Bundja Mabe Deputy Commander, Kamina: Brig. General Jean-Claude Tshibumbu Commander, Kitona Military Base: Brig. General Mustapha Mukiza Deputy Commander, Kitona: Brig. General Jacques Itshalingoza Nduru Commander, Corps of Engineers: Colonel Constantin Salumu Bilika First Deputy, Corps of Engineers: Colonel Mbuyu Kamulete Lay Lay Second Deputy, Corps of Engineers: Colonel Luhekua Nzanzu Commander, Signal Corps: Colonel Andre Matutezulua First Deputy, Signal Corps: Colonel Kalunguishi Nsiri Second Deputy, Signal Corps: Lt. Colonel Felix Kaloza Director, Social Actions: Brig. General Mufundinga Deputy Director, Social Actions: Colonel Armand Djamboleka Director General, Health Services: Colonel Gilbert Kabanda First Deputy Director, Health Services: Colonel Kakudji Ilunga Second Deputy Director, Health Services: Colonel Munyampara Shou CONGOLESE NATIONAL POLICE (PNC) -------------- Inspector General: Maj. General John Numbi Deputy Inspector General (Operations): Benjamin Alongaboni Deputy Inspector General (Administration and Logistics): Charles Bisengimana Director, Special Services: Union Vagba NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (ANR) -------------- General Administrator: Daruwezi Mukombe Deputy General Administrator: Mate Cirimugo Interior Department: Kaleu Mutondo Exterior Department: Kibelisa Ngabasui Department of Support: Lofembe Ekofo MEECE