The Democratic Republic of the Congo is preparing a new four-year military programme aimed at turning the FARDC into a better-trained, better-equipped and more professional force.
Vice-Prime Minister and Defence Minister Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita presented senior lawmakers with an assessment of the armed forces on Monday, July 20. The meeting brought together the defence and security committees of the National Assembly and the Senate at the Palais du Peuple in Kinshasa.
Kabombo’s message was direct: the army cannot provide a lasting response to the country’s security threats while it remains weakened by gaps in training, equipment and infrastructure.
He therefore asked Parliament to support the proposed Military Programming Law for 2027–2030 and ensure that the plan receives adequate, predictable funding.
What is the proposed military programming law?
The legislation is designed to establish the FARDC’s priorities over four years and connect those priorities to a multi-year financing plan.
Instead of relying mainly on emergency spending whenever a crisis develops, the government wants a legal framework that allows it to plan military training, equipment purchases, infrastructure and operations in advance.
The bill is built around six main programmes:
General administration and the welfare and management of military personnel
Military instruction, training and research
WAR IN DR CONGO
DRC Defence Minister Seeks More Funds to Modernize FARDC
21 juil. 2026
21 juil. 2026
6 min read
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The Democratic Republic of the Congo is preparing a new four-year military programme aimed at turning the FARDC into a better-trained, better-equipped and more professional force.
Vice-Prime Minister and Defence Minister Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita presented senior lawmakers with an assessment of the armed forces on Monday, July 20. The meeting brought together the defence and security committees of the National Assembly and the Senate at the Palais du Peuple in Kinshasa.
Kabombo’s message was direct: the army cannot provide a lasting response to the country’s security threats while it remains weakened by gaps in training, equipment and infrastructure.
He therefore asked Parliament to support the proposed Military Programming Law for 2027–2030 and ensure that the plan receives adequate, predictable funding.
What is the proposed military programming law?
The legislation is designed to establish the FARDC’s priorities over four years and connect those priorities to a multi-year financing plan.
Instead of relying mainly on emergency spending whenever a crisis develops, the government wants a legal framework that allows it to plan military training, equipment purchases, infrastructure and operations in advance.
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The bill is built around six main programmes:
General administration and the welfare and management of military personnel
Military instruction, training and research
Equipment and other military material
Modernization of military infrastructure
Training exercises, operations and military intelligence
Development of a national defence industry
The proposal would also be accompanied by changes to the framework law governing the FARDC.
Why is Guy Kabombo asking for more support?
During the July 20 meeting, senior officers, commanders and officials responsible for military schools and other army structures described the obstacles affecting their work.
According to the Defence Ministry’s account, the problems involve training, equipment and infrastructure. The officers argued that substantial resources are needed to improve the FARDC’s operational capacity and advance its professionalization.
The latest briefing followed Kabombo’s initial presentation of the bill to the National Assembly on July 14. Lawmakers then continued examining the proposal, with part of the debate held behind closed doors because of the sensitivity of the security information involved.
Why the 2022–2025 plan is important
The previous military programming law expired in 2025. The government says the new proposal is intended to address weaknesses and implementation problems observed under that earlier programme.
Radio Okapi reported that the 2027–2030 plan shifts toward more targeted planning, with funding priorities including intelligence, military research, training, equipment and facilities.
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That distinction matters. Passing another military law will not automatically improve conditions inside the armed forces. Its effect will depend on whether Parliament provides the promised resources through annual national budgets and whether those funds are managed transparently and reach the programmes for which they were approved.
No definitive total cost for the four-year proposal was disclosed in the public reports reviewed by XTRAfrica. Claims presenting a final budget figure should therefore be treated cautiously until Parliament or the government publishes the bill and its financial schedule.
The eastern conflict raises the pressure
The debate is taking place while the DRC continues to face a serious security crisis in the east. The conflict has placed heavy pressure on the army and exposed long-standing problems involving readiness, logistics, troop support, command structures and military infrastructure.
The programming law is meant to provide a more stable foundation for rebuilding the FARDC while the country responds to immediate threats. Kabombo has presented it as essential to strengthening operational capacity against both internal and external dangers.
The proposal also includes the idea of building a national defence industry. If implemented, that could reduce some dependence on imported military supplies and create local technical capacity. However, the public documents released so far do not provide enough detail to determine what would be produced, how quickly the programme could begin or how it would be financed.
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Where would the money come from?
The main source would be the national budget, meaning the programming law would need to be reflected in successive annual finance laws.
Kabombo has also promoted the FARDC Development Support Fund, known as FSD-FARDC, as an additional mechanism to mobilize resources for the defence sector. Public and private donors and other partners have been encouraged to support the fund.
That raises an important accountability question. Parliament will not only be asked to authorize more resources; it will also need to examine how the money will be controlled, audited and connected to measurable improvements in training, equipment, soldier welfare and battlefield readiness.
What happens next?
The 2027–2030 military programming law remains a proposal under parliamentary examination. It should not yet be described as an approved modernization programme or as money already released to the FARDC.
Lawmakers must scrutinize the plan, its priorities and its financing before it can become the legal basis for the next phase of military reform. Even after adoption, implementation would depend on annual budget allocations, procurement, oversight and the government’s ability to turn planned spending into real improvements inside the armed forces.
For Congolese citizens, the central issue is therefore bigger than whether the FARDC receives more money. The test is whether a properly financed and monitored programme can produce a more disciplined, professional and operational army capable of protecting the country and its population.
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