FARDC colonel joins FRN rebels in Goma
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Taarifa
Colonel Demumba Ndolo Ghislain, in charge of operations and intelligence with the 61st Infantry Brigade, has left the DR Congo Armed Forces to join the FRN rebel group in Goma. The movement’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, says two other officers have also joined its ranks, according to Taarifa.
Colonel Demumba Ndolo Ghislain, head of operations and intelligence with the 61st Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), defected and joined the FRN rebels in Goma, Taarifa reports.
The previous day, Brigadier General François Kamanzi, commander of operations for the 12th Military Region in Kongo-Central, had also joined the FRN, according to the movement’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka. He announced that two other officers had joined the group and that their identities would be disclosed later.
These defections come as Congolese military officials accuse Joseph Kabila of seeking to retake power by force, an accusation he denies. General Eddy Kapend has announced the mobilisation of the army against the FRN in Katanga, amid growing tensions between the authorities and the rebel movement.
FARDC operations were discussed at a Defence Council meeting convened by President Félix Tshisekedi on 15 October. On 19 October, General Eddy Kapend called on the army to mobilise against the FRN in Katanga.
