Gabriel Amisi Kumba
Gabriel Amisi Kumba | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance |  Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Service | Land Forces |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands | 8th Military Region (North Kivu) Land Forces |
| Battles / wars | Kisangani massacre Military operation in Kindu |
Major General Gabriel Amisi Kumba (Tango Four) was Chief of Staff of the Forces Terrestres, the army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Amisi was a former Forces armees Zairoises (FAZ) officer who was recruited into the AFDL in 1996.[1] During the Second Congo War, Amisi was assistant chief of staff for logistics of RCD-G. This position was the origin of his nickname, as T-4 was the abbreviation for his position. He was implicated by Human Rights Watch in the execution of soldier Joe Lona Bifuko and in the torture of prisoners in the ANC military intelligence detention centre in Goma during 2001.[2]
He became famous for helping command the repression of a mutiny in Kisangani in May 2002.[1]
After the Kisangani massacre, he was transferred to command an ANC brigade based at Mbuji-Mayi. In September 2002, the ANC brigade he was commanding allegedly took part in the executions of 82 civilians and Mayi-Mayi fighters in Kindu during a military operation together with the Rwandan Defence Forces.[3]
He was former commander of the 8th Military Region in North Kivu, appointed in January 2005.[4] In August 2006, it appears he was moved from command of the 8th Military Region to become chief of staff of the FARDC Land Forces (Forces Terrestre).[5] There are credible allegations, some made by the BBC, that General Kumba has personally profited from his position, benefiting from mining in the East of the country, during the past few years.[6]
There have been many reports linking Amisi to mining operations in North Kivu. In particular, Amisi appears to have protected and profited from the operations of Colonel Samy Matumo, the former commander of the 85th Brigade that occupied the Bisie mine for several years.[1] The report, written for the U.N. by the specialist Group of Experts on the DRC, says that Amisi (Tango Fort) oversees a network providing arms and ammunition to criminal groups and rebels who roam in the hills and forests of Congo's resource-rich but troubled east. According to the Group of Experts report, ammunition is bought in neighboring Congo Brazzaville, before being smuggled through the Congolese capital Kinshasa to the east by a close network of Amisi's associates, including members of his family.[7]
On 22 November 2012, Amisi was suspended from his position in the Forces Terrestres by president Joseph Kabila due to an inquiry into his alleged role in the sale of arms to various rebel groups in the eastern part of the country, which may have implicated the rebel group M23.[8]
Amisi received sanctions from the United States on 28 September 2016 because units under his command "reportedly have engaged in violent repression of political demonstrations”, including January 2015 protests in which at least 42 people died. U.S. citizens are now barred from conducting financial transactions with him. The measures were seen as a warning to president Joseph Kabila to respect the country's constitution.[9]
References
- ^ a b c Congo Siasa, Congo Army Chief Caught in Gold Deal, November 2010
- ^ Human Rights Watch, 'War Crimes in Kisangani: The Response of Rwandan-backed rebels to the May 2002 mutiny, HRW, August 2002, 12.
- ^ Stanis Nkundiye, 'War in the East: The RDC massacres 82 civilians in Kindu,' L'Avenir, English Translation, 20 September 2002, via Barouski, 'Laurent Nkundabatware, His Rwandan Allies, and the ex-ANC Mutiny,' 13 February 2007, 29 of 457, privately distributed.
- ^ Template:Fr icon Jean Omasombo, RDC: Biographies des acteurs de la Troisieme Republique, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Brussels, 24-25
- ^ U.S. Embassy Kinshasa, 06KINSHASA1846: North Kivu Update: FARDC Launches Failed Offensive On Nkunda Positions, Monday, December 11, 2006, para 6.
- ^ BBC, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11722142
- ^ Olivier, Mathieu (November 22, 2012). "RDC : le général Amisi, numéro deux des FARDC, accusé par l'ONU de vendre des armes aux rebelles dans l'Est" (in French). Jeune Afrique. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
- ^ "RDC : le président Kabila suspend le général major Amisi, le chef des forces terrestres" (in French). Radio Okapi. November 22, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
- ^ Burke, Jason (28 September 2016). "US imposes sanctions on top DRC officials after election delay". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
Further reading
- Nicholas Garrett; Sylvia Sergiou; Koen Vlassenroot, 'Negotiated Peace for Extortion: the case of Walikale territory in Eastern DR Congo,' Journal of Eastern African Studies, vol. 3, issue 1, 2009