FARDC still unaware of its exact number of troops

In a move described as unprecedented, the Inspectorate General of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (IG FARDC) has launched a large-scale audit aimed at identifying inactive soldiers and unauthorized individuals fraudulently registered as military beneficiaries.

The Inspectorate General stated that the primary goal of this operation is to clean up salary management systems and combat fraud within the national army.

In a press release issued on May 31, the Inspectorate emphasized:

“The operation to verify inactive military personnel was conducted rigorously, with integrity and professionalism, across the entire national territory.”

Contrary to circulating rumors, this initiative is not intended to weaken the military. The FARDC intelligence service clarified:

“Its objective is not to undermine the command structure, but rather to provide accurate data about military personnel.”

The nationwide inspection uncovered numerous irregularities, including individuals not listed in the official database, orphans above the legal age for benefits, and claims made on behalf of deceased soldiers without valid documentation.

According to reports from tazamardc.net,

“Many serious errors were discovered in these files, prompting the authorities to temporarily suspend salary payments, in line with established regulations.”

Following this audit, there is a strong push for a reform of military financial management.
The Inspectorate emphasized:

“The ultimate goal of this initiative is to fight fraud, identity theft, and salary embezzlement.”
Observers note that the core aim is to ensure that state funds are benefiting only legitimate recipients, and not those exploiting the system.

Additionally, the IG FARDC acknowledged that delays or processing errors could affect certain dossiers, which will need to be carefully reviewed again. However, those found guilty of deliberate fraud — including officials in leadership positions —

“Will be prosecuted before military courts, according to the law.”

In its statement, the Inspectorate reiterated its commitment to work with all military branches to uphold the laws of the Republic. The initiative is seen as potentially ushering in a new era of transparency and accountability within FARDC.

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