The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) former army chief, Lieutenant General Christian Tshiwewe, has been arrested on suspicion of plotting to overthrow President Felix Tshisekedi’s government, according to a senior official.
Tshiwewe and several other high-ranking military officers were detained late Wednesday night in the capital, Kinshasa, and are being held at the Ndolo military prison. The government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that military intelligence uncovered incriminating evidence during an investigation into an alleged coup attempt.
Authorities have not yet released an official statement, but sources claim Tshiwewe is accused of collaborating with former President Joseph Kabila to destabilize the current administration. Kabila, who ruled the DRC from 2001 to 2019, recently returned from South Africa and visited regions controlled by the M23 rebel group—a move that drew sharp criticism from the government.
Rise and Fall of a Military Leader
Tshiwewe joined the Congolese army in the late 1990s under former President Laurent-Désiré Kabila and steadily rose through the ranks. President Tshisekedi appointed him army chief of staff in 2022, but his tenure was marked by escalating tensions with rebel factions, particularly the M23.
The M23 insurgency, which re-emerged in late 2021, has killed thousands and displaced over 3 million people in eastern Congo. The Congolese military has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the rebels—a claim Kigali denies.
Ongoing Conflict and Diplomatic Efforts
As security forces crack down on alleged coup plotters, the Congolese government is engaged in talks with M23 representatives in Qatar to negotiate an end to the conflict. Meanwhile, the army has arrested multiple soldiers accused of collaborating with rebel forces.
The arrest of Tshiwewe underscores deepening political divisions in the DRC, where lingering influence from the Kabila era continues to challenge Tshisekedi’s administration. Analysts warn that further instability could complicate efforts to pacify the volatile east and stabilize the nation ahead of future elections.
