Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC)

The FARDC is the national military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They operate under the direct authority of President Félix Tshisekedi and have been the primary force fighting against M23 rebels in eastern DRC. Despite its size (estimated to have 140,000 personnel), FARDC has struggled with structural weaknesses, leadership problems, and resource constraints.

FARDC has faced significant challenges in its operations against M23 rebels, particularly in early 2025. Military units around Lake Kivu have proven combat ineffective against M23's advances since January, often abandoning their positions without fighting. This mirrors similar issues from 2012-2013, when FARDC struggled against a past iteration of M23. The army's effectiveness has been compromised by what President Tshisekedi has described as being "betrayed from within," with some units reportedly going "a week without command or supplies."

In February 2025, President Tshisekedi announced changes to FARDC to increase military effectiveness and prepare for potential counter offensives against M23. These reforms include restructuring FARDC's leadership to remove ineffective or compromised military personnel, increasing pay bonuses and benefits for frontline soldiers to strengthen morale and decrease defections to M23, and improving logistics and supply systems.

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The FARDC is the national military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They operate under the direct authority of President Fé... Show More