Foreign Troops are on the ground in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo for the peacekeeping mission in the country.
Ugandan and South Sudanese soldiers are the latest troops that have arrived to help restore peace in Eastern DRC under the East African Community Regional Force.
Their key mandate is to oversee the withdrawal of the M-23 rebels who have captured the country’s eastern part since November 2021.
“The regional forces’ mission is not only to tackle M-23, but all those armed groups, but for doing that, we should make sure we work on peaceful solutions because when it comes to using weapons. In the meantime, it is going to be done in Congolese territory”, an official said.
Troops from Kenya and Burundi arrived in the east of the DRC last year. They have faced criticism for failing to stop the rebels from capturing more territory.
“As you see, we have Forces of the East African community. Think about four, or five countries. We have Angola which has been added, we have South Sudan which has been added, and if you were to consider the power force of those, armies. But all these forces came in with the mandate not to fight and maintain peace”, an official added.
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The soldiers of the East African Regional Force will be based in the areas where the M-23 rebels have left.
Burundian troops have deployed in the town of Kichanga and Kilolire while the Ugandans are in Mabenga, Kiwanja, and the border town of Banagana.
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The UN says the conflict in Eastern DRC has claimed more than 700 lives since December last year.
Many people in Eastern DRC feel the East African regional force has not helped restore peace in their area since it was deployed last year.
The DRC government has agreed to maintain the East African Regional Force on its territory and renew its mandate despite the criticism from the population, it has however called for the renegotiation of the mandate of the force.
