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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

DRC: Three RCD-Goma officers could lose military leadership positions

KINSHASA, 16 October 2003 (IRIN) - Three military officers appointed to key leadership positions in the unified national military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) could be replaced for failing to report for duty in the national capital, Kinshasa, government spokesman Vital Kamerhe told IRIN on Wednesday.

The three officers, hailing from the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) former rebel movement - now party to the DRC's two-year power-sharing transitional government - have refused to report to Kinshasa, citing concerns for their security.

"I can confirm this," Kamerhe said. "RCD-Goma would be obliged to choose other officers. The chief of staff of the unified national military [Lt-Gen Liwanga Mata Nyamunyobo] called their refusal an act of indiscipline."

On 9 September, Liwanga summoned the three officers to appear before the Military High Court (Haute Cour Militaire) for having refused to take part in the 5 September inauguration of the newly-unified national army. He said that Brig-Gen Laurent Nkunda, colonels Elie Gichondo and Erick Ruhorimbere, who had been named commander and deputy commanders, respectively, of three of the country's 10 military regions, would have to appear before the court "for indiscipline and refusing [to obey] orders".

Nkunda is among a number of RCD-Goma military officers named to lead the unified national army who have been accused of serious human rights violations.

Kamerhe confirmed information provided to IRIN by military sources that if the three officers failed to report immediately to Kinshasa, RCD-Goma would be obliged to propose three new candidates; failure to this would oblige Kinshasa to choose the candidates.

Kamerhe also confirmed that the three officers had assured Kinshasa of their intention to report to the capital imminently.

Leadership of the DRC's new military is shared by officers from the former Kinshasa government, the Mayi-Mayi militias, and former rebel movements RCD-Goma, Mouvement de liberation du Congo, RCD-Kisangani/Mouvement de liberation, and RCD-National.

Efforts to distribute basic supplies and food rations to some 270,000 soldiers of the unified national army are currently underway, by means of a cross-country mission led by Maj-Gen Sylvain Buki, chief of staff of the DRC's ground forces.

Theme(s): (IRIN) Conflict

[ENDS]

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