The Military Governor of North Kivu Province, Lt. Gen. Johnny Luboya, revealed that the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) are being killed by rebels led by Thomas Lubanga because the army has become demoralized over time.
He made these remarks on Friday, May 30, while discussing the various challenges facing the Congolese army in their operations against armed groups in the Ituri region.
One of the armed groups FARDC is currently fighting is CRP, led by Lubanga, which recently launched attacks on government troops.
In a press briefing, Gen. Luboya confirmed that Congolese soldiers are being killed in large numbers by these rebels.
He said: “A soldier at the frontline, like now when we are fighting CRP-M23, the rebels of Thomas Lubanga who has become an ally of M23 — our soldiers are dying.”
Among the issues he highlighted that are weakening FARDC morale is the fact that widows of fallen soldiers have waited for years without receiving their compensation, and their pleas have gone unanswered.
Lt. Gen. Johnny Luboya explained that the matter has been repeatedly brought to the attention of the army’s top inspection unit, but nothing has been done.
He said: “There’s the issue of identifying the widows. For many years, we’ve struggled with identifying them. Recently, we even received an inspection team that came here for this purpose, but every time they come, nothing is done.”
The general added that this unresolved issue demoralizes soldiers on the battlefield.
He continued: “If a soldier is fighting the enemy but knows widows aren’t compensated, why would he sacrifice himself? He might say, ‘If I die, the same fate will befall my children.’ This discourages soldiers, especially those on the frontlines. Why keep fighting when they know their widows will be treated like those in eastern DRC today?”
Luboya also revealed that widows have begun protesting naked, and that the army faces a serious shortage of troops — another issue he says he has reported to President Félix Tshisekedi, without any resolution.
He added: “You know this is a war zone; we shouldn’t be distracted or discouraged by these problems. The military shouldn’t be constantly facing the same issues.”
“When the President and Commander-in-Chief came here for the first time, I personally raised the issue of troop shortages. I explained it clearly. People say whatever they want, but we’ve seen the consequences. I believe the commanders in Goma have seen what I’m talking about.”
The Ituri Military Governor expressed disbelief that a regiment supposed to have 1,200 troops often has only 300 or 400 — with no accountability.
He also revealed that soldiers on the frontlines are starving, eating only 15 times a month, even though the Ministry of Defense allocates them money for food — yet this too contributes to their demoralization.
