Former DRC Army Chief arrested in plot to kill President Tshisekedi

General Christian Tshiwewe Songesha, former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and one-time military advisor to President Félix Tshisekedi, has been arrested for allegedly plotting to assassinate the President. The news was confirmed by the ruling party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS). For several days, rumors had been circulating about the general’s arrest. On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, UDPS Secretary General Augustin Kabuya publicly confirmed the arrest during a political meeting. He revealed that General Tshiwewe is accused of

General Christian Tshiwewe Songesha, former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and one-time military advisor to President Félix Tshisekedi, has been arrested for allegedly plotting to assassinate the President. The news was confirmed by the ruling party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS). For several days, rumors had been circulating about the general’s arrest. On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, UDPS Secretary General Augustin Kabuya publicly confirmed the arrest during a political meeting. He revealed that General Tshiwewe is accused of planning the physical elimination of President Tshisekedi. "The day we arrested former Chief of Staff Christian Tshiwewe, I saw people say: you see, we started arresting generals from such a community," Kabuya said. "Let's be clear, when President Félix Tshisekedi promoted these generals, he promoted them in the name of their communities? But where does this discourse come from? Apparently people don't see the gravity of this situation, someone sitting like that and after reflection with his entourage, how can he kill someone, a father, a grandfather, the first institution of the Republic, and not be questioned?" Kabuya added that General Tshiwewe did not deny the accusations during his interrogation. "Serious people know the harm he has done, and he himself has not denied it either. That is to say, he sits and says he is going to kill him. Even a chicken before killing it, we still think, all of us who are behind him, what will be our fate? Should we applaud you?"Kabuya asked the crowd. The arrest is part of a wider wave of detentions targeting senior army officers. Over the weekend, Lieutenant General Jules Banza Mwilambwe, Chief of General Staff of the FARDC, clarified that these arrests are not automatic convictions. He said those found innocent will be released, while those proven guilty will be prosecuted by the courts. Major General Sylvain Ekenge, FARDC spokesperson, supported the arrests, stating they were carried out due to “serious breaches” of military discipline. He emphasized that these actions were based on misconduct, not ethnicity or community ties.