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The state of the forces

Congo-Kinshasa’s armed forces comprise about 150,000, including 2,500 in the Navy, 3,000 in the Air Force and 15,000 in the Republican Guard. Military observers believe that most of the naval and air force equipment is unusable or unsuitable. The 20 T-72 tanks recently bought from Ukraine or the 20 T-55s and other armoured vehicles are useless against Rwandan ex-soldiers or the Lord’s Resistance Army fanatics who camp in the eastern forests and mountains. President Joseph Kabila’s best troops are Katangese and Tutsi of the Conseil national pour la défense du peuple, who have joined the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo....

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The state of the forces

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