Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has undertaken a major overhaul of the military leadership, replacing Chief of Staff Christian Tshiwewe Songesha with Lieutenant-General Jules Banza Mwilambwe, state television announced on Thursday.
The presidential order did not provide a reason for Tshiwewe's removal, but it also included changes to the leadership of military intelligence and the commanders overseeing security operations in the country’s conflict-ridden east. This region has been destabilized by the M23 rebel insurgency since 2022, despite ongoing efforts to restore peace.
Congo and the United Nations have accused neighboring Rwanda of backing the M23 rebellion with troops and weapons—a charge Rwanda denies. Hopes for a resolution between the two nations have dimmed as violence persists in the region.