Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo, national army. Fights M23/FRN and ADF; formally coordinates Wazalendo through the VDP reserve framework; has a documented history of tactical collaboration with the FDLR. Military courts hand down death sentences for desertion and abandoning positions (27 Republican Guard soldiers at Uvira, Oct 2026).
Origin: DR Congo
Recent (to 3 Nov 2026)
- 30 Oct: seven soldiers of the FARDC ‘Hiboux’ group reported killed by a drone strike on their positions at Masango (South Kivu); reinforcements requested (F3, Steve Wembi (X), x.com/wembi_steve/status/2116123601623527448, 30 Oct 2026). Untraced.
- Late Oct: Rwandan pro-government KT Press, citing ‘regional media’ and FRN spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka, says Brig. Gens. François Kamanzi (ops commander, 12th Military Region) and Germain Katanga, Col. Ghislain Dem Umba Ndolo (61st Brigade, Tanganyika) and 635 soldiers defected to the FRN, crossing through Nzibira (South Kivu) on 28 Oct. FARDC spokesman Maj. Gen. Sylvain Ekenge appealed to soldiers; Kinshasa has not confirmed. Rated 4 (doubtful): partisan outlet, rebel sources, unverified figures: https://www.ktpress.rw/2026/10/two-dr-congo-army-generals-over-600-soldiers-defect-to-kabila-led-rebels/
- 6–9 Oct: a military court in Uvira sentenced 27 Republican Guard soldiers to death for abandoning strategic positions (SOS Médias Burundi): https://www.sosmediasburundi.org/en/2026/10/09/drc-27-soldiers-sentenced-to-death-for-abandoning-strategic-positions-in-uvira/
Relationships
- Partners with: Wazalendo
- Collaborates with (UN-documented): FDLR
- Fights: M23
- Fights: FRN
- Fights: ADF
- Allied with: UPDF
- Allied with: Burundi (FDNB)
- Contracted: Agemira RDC
- Contracted: Congo Protection (RALF)
- Contracted: Vectus Global
- Fights: CODECO
- Fights: Mobondo
Referenced by
- ADF (Fights)
- Agemira RDC (Contracted by)
- Bakata Katanga (Fights)
- Burundi (FDNB) (Allied with)
- CODECO (Fights)
- CRP (Convention pour la Révolution Populaire) (Fights)
- Congo Protection (RALF) (Contracted by)
- Doha Process (DRC-AFC-M23) (Party)
- FDLR (Collaborates with)
- FPIC (Chini ya Kilima) (Fights)
- FRN (Fights)
- FRPI (Fights)
- Kamuina Nsapu (remnants) (Fights)
- M23 (Fights)
- Mai-Mai Apa na Pale (Fights)
- Mai-Mai Malaika (Fights)
- Mobondo (Fights)
- Russia (Courted by)
- SAMIDRC (Allied with)
- UPDF (Allied with)
- Uvira offensive and withdrawal (Dec 2025 – Jan 2026) (Defender)
- VDP (Supervised by)
- Vectus Global (Contracted by)
- Walikale and Rutshuru fighting (Oct 2026) (Attacker)
- Washington Accord (June 2025) (Signatory)
- Wazalendo (Partners with)