New army inaugurated, but without a name

The leadership of a newly unified national military in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was inaugurated on Friday in the capital, Kinshasa, although some debate remained as to what the new force would be called.

Gathered before President Joseph Kabila, his four vice-presidents and other members of the recently installed two-year national transitional government, some 30 officers from former belligerent forces named to head the various military branches and regions swore "fidelity to the DRC, obedience to the President of the Republic and respect for the institutions and laws of the country and of the military". They also vowed not to undertake any unsanctioned military activity.

For his part, Defence Minister Jean-Pierre Ondekane, of the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma), said: "The installation of the military leadership of the Democratic Republic of the Congo constitutes an edifice consecrating the birth of a new, integrated army."

The ceremony was to have taken place on Monday, but was postponed because the parties to the unified force - namely, those of the former Kinshasa government, RCD-Goma, the Mouvement de liberation du Congo (MLC), RCD-Kisangani/Mouvement de liberation, RCD/National and the Mayi-Mayi militias - could not agree on what they would be called.

Nevertheless, all officers pledged allegiance to the "Forces armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo".

RCD-Goma has opposed using the same name as that used under the former Kinshasa regime, "Forces Armees Congolaises". RCD-Goma spokesman Jean-Pierre Lola Kisanga said the High Council of Defence would continue to debate the issue of the new name for the army.

The transitional constitution called for the installation of a High Council of Defence that would include the president of the Republic, who also serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, as well as representatives from the various former belligerent parties.

As part of the power-sharing accord reached at the end of the inter-Congolese dialogue, the former belligerents agreed to share the leadership roles of a unified national army.

Lt-Gen Liwanga Mata Nyamunyobo, of the armed forces of the former Kinshasa government, was named chief of staff. He will be assisted by four deputies, two of whom are from the two largest former rebel movements: Brig-Gen Bahuma Ambamba of RCD-Goma, who will be head of operations, and Brig-Gen Malik Kijege of the MLC, who will be head of logistics.

As for service chiefs, Maj-Gen Sylvain Buki of RCD-Goma was named head of ground forces, MLC's Maj-Gen Dieudonne Amuli Bahigwa head of the navy, and Maj-Gen John Numbi of the former Kinshasa government head of the air force.

The leaders of the new national military were nominated on 19 August by Kabila.