John Numbi
Encyclopedia
Major General John Numbi is, , the Inspector General of the National Police of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
.
and was part of the gendarme in Katanga (formerly Shaba). Politically active, he was an organizer of the youth militia of the Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans
(JUFERI), which was used by former governor Gabriel Kyungu wa Kumwanza against Luba
supporters of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress in the late 1990s. In 2000, he held the rank of Brigadier General and was the commander for military Region 4 (Katanga).
In November 2006, the Congolese military's offensive against the armed National Congress for the Defence of the People
(CNDP) had stalled. Numbi, then commander of the Congolese air force, was sent in Goma
to negotiate with CNDP commander Laurent Nkunda
. The talks were moved on 31 December to Kigali
, where they were facilitated by senior Rwanda
n officers, including Chief of Staff Gen. James Kabarebe. In early January, an agreement was reached, the terms of which included that Nkunda's forces would be subject to mixage with government units in North Kivu, and eventually deployed outside the province. On 14 February 2007, in reaction to increasing international criticism of the use of child soldiers, Numbi was among a group of senior officers who issued a notice to commanders of mixed brigades that they would be held responsible for the illegal presence of children in their units.
On 26 February 2008, Numbi met with Interior Minister Denis Kalume and President Joseph Kabila
to discuss Bundu Dia Kongo
(BDK), an unarmed religious movement that had been engaged in violent demonstrations for greater political independence in Bas Kongo. Two days later, 600 police officers armed with machine guns and grenades were deployed from Kinshasa
to repress the group. This action was criticized by United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
as an excessive use of force. In 2009, Numbi and Kabarebe of Rwanda managed Operations Kimia II and Umoja Wetu
, a joint operation against Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
forces operating in eastern Congo.
Historian Gérard Prunier
in a 2009 publication states that Numbi, along with Augustin Katumba Mwanke, Samba Kaputo, Kalume and Marcellin Cishambo, are the "old palace guard" who "are the ones actually running things" in the Congolese government. Prunier further asserts that this group has "a vested interest in 'personally fruitful' stagnation."
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
.
History
Numbi is of the same Lubakat group as former President Laurent-Désiré KabilaLaurent-Désiré Kabila
Laurent-Désiré Kabila was President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from May 17, 1997, when he overthrew Mobutu Sese Seko, until his assassination by his bodyguards on January 18, 2001...
and was part of the gendarme in Katanga (formerly Shaba). Politically active, he was an organizer of the youth militia of the Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans
Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans
The Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans is a political party in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since the actual electoral strength of the political parties in Congo is not known, the size of the party cannot be determined....
(JUFERI), which was used by former governor Gabriel Kyungu wa Kumwanza against Luba
Luba people
The Luba are one of the Bantu peoples of Central Africa. They are indigenous to the Katanga, Kasai, and Maniema regions which were historic provinces of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo...
supporters of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress in the late 1990s. In 2000, he held the rank of Brigadier General and was the commander for military Region 4 (Katanga).
In November 2006, the Congolese military's offensive against the armed National Congress for the Defence of the People
National Congress for the Defence of the People
The National Congress for the Defence of the People is a political armed militia established by Laurent Nkunda in the Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in December 2006. The CNDP was engaged in the Kivu conflict, an armed conflict against the military of the Democratic Republic...
(CNDP) had stalled. Numbi, then commander of the Congolese air force, was sent in Goma
Goma
Goma is a city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, next to the Rwandan city of Gisenyi. The lake and the two cities are in the western branch of the Great Rift Valley, and Goma lies only 13 to 18 km due south of the crater of the active...
to negotiate with CNDP commander Laurent Nkunda
Laurent Nkunda
Laurent Nkunda or Laurent Nkundabatware, or Laurent Nkunda Batware, or as he prefers to be called The Chairman — is a former General in the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo and is the former warlord operating in the province of Nord-Kivu, sympathetic to Congolese Tutsis and the...
. The talks were moved on 31 December to Kigali
Kigali
Kigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of...
, where they were facilitated by senior Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
n officers, including Chief of Staff Gen. James Kabarebe. In early January, an agreement was reached, the terms of which included that Nkunda's forces would be subject to mixage with government units in North Kivu, and eventually deployed outside the province. On 14 February 2007, in reaction to increasing international criticism of the use of child soldiers, Numbi was among a group of senior officers who issued a notice to commanders of mixed brigades that they would be held responsible for the illegal presence of children in their units.
On 26 February 2008, Numbi met with Interior Minister Denis Kalume and President Joseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila Kabange is a Congolese politician who has been President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since January 2001. He took office ten days after the assassination of his father, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila...
to discuss Bundu Dia Kongo
Bundu dia Kongo
Bundu dia Kongo is a politico-cultural movement founded in June 1969 by Ne Mwanda Nsemi. The movement is mainly based in the Bas-Congo province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The movement focuses on defending, protecting, and promoting values, rights, and interests of Kongo people in the...
(BDK), an unarmed religious movement that had been engaged in violent demonstrations for greater political independence in Bas Kongo. Two days later, 600 police officers armed with machine guns and grenades were deployed from Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
to repress the group. This action was criticized by United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or MONUSCO , is a United Nations peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which was established by the United Nations Security Council in resolutions 1279...
as an excessive use of force. In 2009, Numbi and Kabarebe of Rwanda managed Operations Kimia II and Umoja Wetu
2009 Eastern Congo offensive
The 2009 Eastern Congo offensive was a joint Congo-Rwanda military offensive against the Hutu FDLR rebel group descended from those groups that carried out the 1994 Rwanda genocide...
, a joint operation against Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda is the primary remnant Rwandan Hutu Power rebel group in the east of the of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is often referred to as simply the FDLR after its original French name: the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda...
forces operating in eastern Congo.
Historian Gérard Prunier
Gérard Prunier
Gérard Prunier is a French academic and historian specializing in the Horn of Africa and East Africa.Prunier received a PhD in African History in 1981 from the University of Paris. In 1984, he joined the CNRS scientific institution in Paris as a researcher. He later also became Director of the...
in a 2009 publication states that Numbi, along with Augustin Katumba Mwanke, Samba Kaputo, Kalume and Marcellin Cishambo, are the "old palace guard" who "are the ones actually running things" in the Congolese government. Prunier further asserts that this group has "a vested interest in 'personally fruitful' stagnation."
External links
- Jeune AfriqueJeune AfriqueJeune Afrique is a weekly newsmagazine published in Paris, founded in Tunis by Béchir Ben Yahmed on October 17, 1960. It covers the political, economic and cultural spheres of Africa, with an emphasis on Francophone Africa and the Maghreb....
, http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAJA2524p022-028.xml3/vital-kamerhe-john-numbi-olive-kabila-augustin-katumba-mwankele-premier-cercle.html - http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAJA2513p032-033.xml0/police-portrait-operation-militaire-john-numbijohn-numbi-le-bras-arme-de-kabila.html