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Systemic Corruption and Poor Coordination Undermine DR Congo's Army Against M23 Rebels

Despite increased military spending, the FARDC struggles with low morale, inadequate training, and structural inefficiencies as M23 gains control of key regions.

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FILE - M23 rebels enter the centre of east Congo's second-largest city, Bukavu, and take control of the South Kivu province administrative office, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Janvier Barhahiga, file)
M23 rebels sit on a truck during the escort of captured FDLR members (not pictured) to Rwanda for repatriation, at the Goma-Gisenyi Grande Barrier border crossing, March 1, 2025. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi/File Photo

Overview

  • The M23 rebel group, supported by Rwandan forces, has seized significant cities in eastern DR Congo, including Goma and Bukavu, since January 2025.
  • The FARDC, with over 135,000 soldiers, faces issues of systemic corruption, including mismanagement of funds meant for salaries and logistics, leading to low morale and frequent desertions.
  • Poor training, outdated equipment, and inefficient communication methods, such as reliance on WhatsApp, hinder the FARDC's operational effectiveness in combatting M23's well-trained forces.
  • Cronyism within the military leadership results in loyalty-based appointments rather than competence, contributing to poor tactical decisions and fragmented command structures.
  • Rwanda's organized military support for M23 exacerbates the FARDC's challenges, while DR Congo's efforts to reform its armed forces remain slow and incomplete.