Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has replaced the head of the armed forces as part of broader military reforms aimed at boosting efficiency

The office of the President said, Congo’s army is fighting multiple armed groups, mainly in its restive east where ethnic militias, Islamic fighters and other rebel groups are battling for control near the borders with Uganda and Rwanda.

Christian Tshiwewe Songhesha, former commander of the Republican Guard, an elite unit in charge of protecting the head of state, has replaced Célestin Mbala Musense as the army chief of staff

The new deputy chief of staff in charge of operations, Jerome Chico Tshitambwe, comes from the same unit.

The wave of appointments is part of a broader framework of military reform, Kusema told Reuters. A new military programming law was recently drawn up for the period 2022-25