 This superficially impressive list of units overstates the actual capability of the armed forces at the time . Apart from privileged formations such as the Presidential Division and the 31st Airborne Brigade , most units were poorly trained , divided and so badly paid that they regularly resorted to looting . What operational abilities the armed forces had were gradually destroyed by politicisation of the forces , <unk> , and division of the forces , included purges of <unk> disloyal groups , intended to allow Mobutu to divide and rule . All this occurred against the background of increasing deterioration of state structures under the <unk> Mobutu regime . 
