Uganda to send 1,000 troops to Congo as part of regional force

  

Members of the Republican Guard stand in line to welcome Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo November 21, 2022. REUTERS/ Justin Makangara

The military in Kampala announced on Monday that Uganda will send 1,000 troops to the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo by the end of this month to join a regional force designated to assist in ending decades of turmoil.

 

In April, the seven members of the East African Community (EAC), to which Congo was admitted this year, decided to establish a force to combat paramilitary groups in the troubled east of the country.

 

According to Ugandan army spokesman Felix Kulayigye, Uganda will be the third nation to send troops after contingents from Kenya and Burundi arrived in the region. However, their participation has been criticized by some activist groups and officials due to Uganda's involvement in the brutal civil wars in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

 

The first installment of $325 million in compensation for losses brought on by Ugandan forces occupying Congolese territory in the 1990s was made to the Congo in September, totaling $65 million.

 

Numerous Ugandan troops have already been stationed in Eastern Congo; they were sent there about a year ago as part of a different bilateral agreement to assist in the search for the terrorist organization Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

More than 120 armed factions continue to operate across major portions of eastern Congo despite billions of dollars being spent on one of the largest peacekeeping operations of the UN, including M23 rebels who Congo has frequently accused Rwanda of assisting. Kigali disputes the charges.

 

Following a meeting with President Felix Tshisekedi on Monday, Kenyan President William Ruto stated in Kinshasa that Nairobi would keep its promise to contribute in the stabilization of eastern Congo. The sending of 900 soldiers there has received the approval of Kenya's parliament.

 

"A peaceful and secure and stable Democratic Republic of Congo is not only good for the people of Congo, it is good for the people of our region," Ruto said, adding that the East African Community would do whatever it takes to bring stability.

 

The M23 has staged a major offensive this year, seizing territory, forcing thousands of people from their homes and sparking a diplomatic dispute between Congo and Rwanda.

 

On Friday, the EAC said former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta and Rwandan President Paul Kagame agreed on the need for M23 rebels to cease fire and withdraw from captured territory.

Source: Reuters