Wikipedia:Today's featured article/March 31, 2008



The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) is the state military organisation responsible for defending the Democratic Republic of Congo. The FARDC is being rebuilt as part of the peace process which followed the end of the Second Congo War in July 2003. The FARDC is dominated by its land forces but also includes a small air force and a smaller navy. Together the three services may number around 130,000 personnel. In parallel, there is also a presidential force called the Republican Guard. The National Congolese Police (PNC) are not part of the Armed Forces. In general, there is very little coherent information available on the FARDC. The government in the capital city Kinshasa, the United Nations, the European Union, and bilateral partners which include Angola, South Africa, and Belgium are attempting to create a viable force with the ability to provide the DRC with stability and security. However, this process is being hampered by corruption, the near-impotence of the government, and inadequate donor coordination. The various military units now grouped under the FARDC banner are some of the most unstable in Africa after years of war and underfunding. (more...)

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