Kinshasa, April 24, 2026 – In a fresh development on the battlefields of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the national coordination of the Volontaires pour la Défense de la Patrie (VDP) has strictly forbidden its members from wearing the newly issued uniforms of the regular Congolese army.
According to an urgent circular note dated April 15, 2026, the VDP leadership has ordered all volunteers — widely known in the east of the country as “Wazalendo” — to continue using their previous standard-issue uniforms and to stop wearing the new FARDC (Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo) attire recently distributed to regular troops.
The directive, signed by the national coordinator, Colonel Sekololo Semivumbi Cyprien, was sent via official telegram to all VDP command units across the region. The document states that the ban follows direct instructions from the military high command.
The stated goal of the measure is to create a clear visual distinction between the regular units of the national army and the auxiliary volunteer forces currently deployed on the front lines. The circular is unequivocal about enforcement: any volunteer who violates the order will be considered in breach of instructions and will face disciplinary sanctions.
This decision comes amid ongoing fighting in eastern DRC, where Wazalendo volunteers have played a significant role alongside FARDC troops in efforts to repel Afc/M22 group. The move appears designed to maintain clear command-and-control lines and prevent any confusion between professional soldiers and the supplementary militia forces. The full text of the circular has been circulating on social media and local news outlets in the Kivu provinces since mid-April. No official comment has yet been issued by the FARDC high command on the matter.
Mutwale
