Lenge Simba Eric was born in 1971 in Eastern DRC ( dates not established) and claims to be a distant cousin to the Kabilas. He was a truck driver a local oil company believed to be Shell in Lumbubashi when Banyamulenge led by Laurent Kabila seized the town. According to him he immediately defected to join the movement and donated his truck and all its contents to the insurgence. He then led a battalion of mainly kadokos( Boy soldiers) on the final push to Kinshasa. The Kadokos had a reputation for fearlessnes and ruthlessness and accounted for most of former Mobutu soldiers the FAC. On entering Kinshasa then Captain Eric became the Commander of the green berets, a rag tag battalion stationed at Villa dela OUA, built by Mobutu on the eve of the OAU summit in Kinshasa.This battalion was responsible for the secutirty of greater Kinshasa and worked with the SADC Allied forces to protect Kinshasa when it was threatened by the Rwandan led rebels opposed to Kabila. On 16 January when Kabila was shot in his office by one Rashid, a member of the Presidential Guard, his son Joseph was appointed interim head of state at the instigation of the the Allied Forces Commander in Kinshasa. The Presidential Guard immediately became disgredited and Eric unofficiallly took over presidential security duties as well as marshalling Kinshasa during the state of emergency. His nickname was Rambo as he often carried two or more pistols and a machine gun with his bandolia strapped. He however is a meticulous dresser in his civies as most Congolese are. His house like most Congolese officers was heavily guarded by mean looking Kadokos loyal only to him. ( Even if you alight from the same vehicle, on entering Eric's residence they would search you)He together with a battalion from the Zimbabwe Parachute regiment became the Presidential guard and the set up was that he provided external security(perimeter and convoy) whilst the Allies provided close security. Eric was opposed to this arrangement and often clashed with the Zimbabweans on this issue as it meant he could not travel abroad with the President.As his resentment of the Zimbabweans grew, he became opposed to the whole idea of foreign security for the president and made his point clear. This was more so when the Zimbabweans opposed his appointment to Chief Security Officer in favour of Pierre Banywasizwe whom he considered a civillian. He also fell out of favour with Augustine Mamba then ADC to the President and Nyembo another Presidential adviser. However the trio became united in their resentment of the influence of the Zimbabweans.Later on it appears Eric began to resent even the President. On many occasions he acted suspiciously and numerous reports were made about him but it appeares Joseph Kabila had a soft spot for him. He went on to promote him Major in 2003. We always quried his autonomy at such a junior rank. As earlier stated, as a Captain he could summon anyone and this writer witnessed many senior people begging him to forgive them for one or two misdemeanours and also for direct favours with the President. One such person was Minister Mwenze and General Numbi who is now the defence chief. He went on to promote him Major in 2003.

Eric is a family men, deeply religious and at the time appeared deeply commited to President Kabila. However he is one ruthless person who would not hesistate to shoot anyone. He presided over his battalion with an iron fist and a number of them were detained at his barracks and sum even summarily executed on his orders.Because of his unrestricted direct access to President Kabila, Eric had authority even over General Olenga the then Army Commander and appeared to have some respect for the CDF Lwecha but still he did not take orders from him. Eric is also a close ally of Colonel Eddie Kapenda the mastermind behind Kabila's execution.At Ministerial level his colleague was mostly Mwenze Kongolo.Eric has very close links with the Lebanese community in Kinshasa as he is married to a coloured girl of Lebanese African extraction. He was promoted Major in 2003. insiders believe the coup was stage managed inorder to link other persons belived to be threats who were then arrested whilst Eric 'fled'to Congo Brazza.

These are my recollections on Eric whom I stayed with for nine months and more info will be provided as it is remembered.