Didier Etumba Longomba

Didier Etumba Longila (born 15 July 1955) is a retired Congolese military officer who last served as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) from 2008 to 2018.

Etumba was born in the Basankusu Territory, Belgian Congo. He joined the armed forces of Zaire in 1979 and graduated from Belgium's Royal Military Academy before returning to his country in 1986. He served as a gendarmerie officer in the years leading up to the First Congo War. Etumba became an advisor to President Laurent-Désiré Kabila after the conflict, and took part in the negotiation process during the Second Congo War, being present at the Lusaka and Sun City talks. In 2002 he became the head of the internal department at DEMIAP, before being appointed as chief of the reformed military intelligence agency in 2003.

President Joseph Kabila appointed Etumba as the chief of staff of the Congolese navy in 2007. In 2008, he was became the armed forces chief of staff, amidst the Kivu conflict against CNDP rebels.

Early life and education Didier Etumba Longila was born in the Basankusu Territory in Équateur, Belgian Congo, and is a member of the Mongo ethnic group. He joined the Forces Armées Zaïroises (FAZ) in 1979, and attended Belgium's Royal Military Academy. Etumba also obtained a degree in criminology.

Military career After returning from Belgium in 1986, Etumba received the rank of lieutenant. After the First Congo War and the victory of the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL) in 1997, Etumba served in Laurent-Désiré Kabila's government as an advisor to the president and chief of staff of the military intelligence agency DEMIAP. During the Second Congo War he was involved in the negotiations for the Lusaka Peace Agreement and the Sun City Agreement. On 18 November 2008, Etumba was appointed as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) by President Joseph Kabila, with the rank of lieutenant general, amidst low morale and indiscipline during fighting against rebels in the east.

Later work Etumba worked for Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary's presidential campaign for the December 2018 general election.