The Gendarmerie de la République Démocratique du Congo (GRDC) was formed in 2024 by the Interim Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria. Serving under the Ministry of the Interior, the gendarmerie stands at 32,000 strong. However, according to the current government, its duties have become less important. As the gendarmerie is a powerful tool and costly to maintain, it will receive a complete review of tasks and its purpose will be redefined.

As it stands, the duties of the GRDC are as follows:

• Policing of rural/unstable areas.
• Anti-terrorism/asymmetrical warfare against non-state actors.
• Support duties to assist the military:
  • Convoy escort.
  • Securing occupied territory.

Reviewing these tasks by one, the government has realised that the first and third objectives are mostly unnecessary. The military has expanded and become experienced enough to succeed without support and there are no unstable areas which require active GRDC policing which the military cannot adequately provide. The second objective is important and will remain as a core duty of the GRDC. Remaining as a police force in rural areas is also important as rural areas would be too costly for regular police to police.

The review concluded that the GRDC should function more like similar gendarmerie organisations in Europe and the government has decided to have the GRDC report not only to the Ministery of the Interior but also the Ministry of Defence. The GRDC will still be headed by a Chief of Staff (Directeur-Général) at the rank of Lieutenant-General. Its new tasks are as follows, sorted by which ministry the duty belongs to.

• Ministry of the Interior:
  • Policing of rural areas and towns with less than 5,000 people.
  • Counter-terrorism duties.
  • Criminal investigations under judiciary supervision.
  • Policing of territorial waters including rivers and lakes.
  • Policing of airports and airport security.
  • Provision of military police to the military.
• Ministry of Defence:
  • Protection of the border and customs.
  • Protection and security of the President, the Prime Minister, their residences and the Central Bank of the Congo.

The GRDC may report to different ministries for different duties, but should combine duties if possible. Border protection should be combined with policing territorial waters and airports. The GRDC will maintain its 32,000 strength over time, but will start to show a less military and more police-like appearance overtime as the majority of its members shall be closer to a police officer than a soldier. The existing 10 Brigades of Gendarmerie will be redeployed along borders at central brigade HQs to perform border protection duties and will lose their Division, being assigned instead to "West", "North" or "East" region.