Lieutenant General Philémon Yav Rejects Accusations of Treason and Links to Rwanda

Kinshasa DRC, January 21, 2026 - Lieutenant General Philémon Yav Irung, former commander of the Third Defense Zone of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), has publicly rejected accusations brought against him by the FARDC’s Auditor General, during a hearing at the High Military Court on January 20.

General Yav, whose command covered the strategic provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, Maniema, and Tshopo, faces serious charges, including treason and inciting soldiers to act against duty and discipline, stemming from alleged contacts with Rwandan officials. The accusations date back nearly three years to his arrest in September 2022.

During the hearing, General Yav insisted that he had never received any message from Rwandan officials containing a plot against the country, contrary to claims made by the prosecution. He acknowledged receiving a message from an unknown number but said its content differed entirely from what prosecutors allege and that it was related only to the FDLR, not any plan involving Rwanda’s James Kabarebe.

“I declare that I have never heard of this before. The message the prosecutor is wrongly accusing me of, I did not receive. I never saw it on my phone,” General Yav told the court.

The defense also raised procedural objections, citing lack of jurisdiction, arbitrary arrest, violation of dignity, and irregular reports. While the court deemed the objections admissible, it ruled them unfounded, ordering the investigation to continue.

General Yav, nicknamed “The Tiger”, is among several officers from Greater Katanga whose alleged marginalization under President Félix Tshisekedi has been a point of political contention. The Congolese army maintains that tribal affiliation has no bearing on military service and that all interrogations and arrests are conducted in accordance with military law, according to spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge.

This trial marks a pivotal moment in a high-profile case, highlighting ongoing tensions within the DRC military and allegations of foreign interference in the eastern provinces.