Congo replaces sanctioned army chief with deputy also sanctioned for rights abuses
Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has
appointed a new head of the army to replace General John Numbi, state
television said on Friday.
Both Numbi and his designated successor, General Gabriel
Amisi Kumba, are under U.S. and European Union sanctions for repression and
abuses directed against opposition figures and protesters under former
president Joseph Kabila.
Tshisekedi’s office did not give a reason for the reshuffle.
The last month has seen rising tensions in the ruling
coalition between supporters of Tshisekedi and those of Kabila, who maintains
extensive power through his parliamentary majority, control of most cabinet
ministries, and influence in the army.
Until now, Kumba was Numbi’s number two and head of
territorial operations of the Congolese Armed Forces. Both were promoted to
their posts by Kabila in mid-2018.
The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Tibor
Nagy, said: “We welcome that U.S.-sanctioned General John Numbi is no longer in
his post. The United States supports President Tshisekedi’s commitment to
improving human rights and professionalising the Congolese armed forces.”
In the post on Twitter, Nagy did not comment on the choice
of Kumba as Numbi’s successor.
Tshisekedi also nominated three new members to the
constitutional court, according to state television.
He has been struggling to prove he has the political
strength to follow through on election promises to modernise the country and
stamp out corruption since coming to power in 2019.
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