Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Palace Intrigues
Erik Prince, Oscar Sudi, Emmanuel Macron

Intrigues big and small: every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

MadagascarEmmanuel Macron's growing fears over Russian influence

DRCErik Prince's low-key trip to Brussels

Kenya-TanzaniaWilliam Ruto's right-hand man denied entry to Dar es Salaam

DRC, Uganda
Museveni clan extends its tight rein on trade routes

Several members of the presidential family are determined to play an important role in the flow of resources, mainly from neighbouring DRC. The Ugandan army plays a decisive role in securing trade routes to Kampala.

DRC, Rwanda
Talks in Doha, airstrikes in east DRC: M23 and Kinshasa brace for battle

Kinshasa and the rebel movement may be discussing peace in Qatar, but at ground level in eastern DRC both are beefing up their respective military presence.

DRC
Demand for death penalty for Joseph Kabila raises tensions in SADC countries

The request for the death penalty against former Congolese President Joseph Kabila has worried several countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which fear a precedent within the regional organisation.

DRC
ERG issue hangs over Félix Tshisekedi's visit to Kazakhstan

The Congolese head of state's trip to Astana will be marked by the signing of a settlement agreement intended to put an end to the long-running dispute with mining operator Eurasian Resources Group, in which the Kazakh state is a shareholder.

DRC
The discreet activism of Nande leaders in Kampala

The M23's territorial expansion in North Kivu is causing a stir among the Nande community, who are looking to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's government for support.

DRC
Joseph Kabila's curious excursion to Kampala

At Yoweri Museveni's invitation, Kabila made a discreet stopover in Kampala in mid-March. The trip coincided with a visit there by Corneille Nangaa, head of the Congo River Alliance. For several weeks, Kinshasa has been concerned about the links between these two men.

DRC
Church leaders on a mission to Brussels to open talks with opposition

Representatives of the DRC's Catholic and Protestant churches, who are hoping to establish a national dialogue to resolve the crisis in the east of the country, will travel to Belgium to have discussions with opposing political leaders.

South Sudan
East African delegation expected in Juba for peace agreements

Elected representatives from the East African Community are preparing to meet South Sudanese officials to assess the implementation of the 2018 agreements, the roadmap for which is experiencing numerous delays.

DRC
Kilwa killing preceded by unreported army attack on village of Lwenye

There are differing versions of a June attack by the army and gamekeepers in Lwenye, a town in Haut-Katanga, during which one person was killed and 16 went missing. The provincial government insists that it was a confrontation with militiamen, while an investigation report refers to "a massacre".

DRC
Congolese air force goes prospecting in India

The Congolese military is looking to India for aircraft, with a delegation visiting New Delhi earlier this month.

DRC
Army buys Uganda-made Streit armoured vehicles

The Congolese authorities have ordered 80 Streit light armoured vehicles that are manufactured in Uganda by the Ugandan army's commercial arm.

DRC
Kinshasa to acquire six new Chinese attack drones

The DRC has taken delivery, albeit with some delay, of a second batch of three Chinese CH-4 offensive drones for transfer to the theatre of operations against the M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force in the east of the country.