Gabriel Amisi Kumba
Born: 28 May 1964;
Nationality: Democratic Republic of Congo;
Rank: Major general;
Service: Commander of the First Defense Zone;
Former position: Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (land forces commander).
Activities:
Kumba known also as, Tango Four, 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.
He became famous for helping command the repression of a mutiny in Kisangani in May 2002. 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.
He was former commander of the 8th Military Region in North Kivu, appointed in January 2005. 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.
There are credible allegations, that General Kumba has personally profited from his position, benefiting from mining in the East of the country, during the past few years.
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. Amisi, 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.
In 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.
Amisi received sanctions from the US 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.