The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has decided not to renew the mandate of the East African Community (EAC) regional force that was deployed to help fight the M23 rebels in the eastern part of the country.
The EAC force, composed of troops from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, began its withdrawal on Sunday, as seen by Reuters reporters at the Goma airport. The force had been in the region since November 2022, when the M23 rebels resumed their attacks after a seven-year ceasefire.
The M23 is a rebel group that claims to represent the interests of the ethnic Tutsi minority in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. The group was formed in 2012 after a mutiny by former soldiers of the Congolese army. The group signed a peace deal with the government in 2013, but some of its fighters remained active in the region.
The EAC force was invited by the DRC authorities to help restore security and stability in the area, but Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has repeatedly criticized the force for being ineffective and failing to enforce the withdrawal of the M23. The presidency announced that it would not extend the mandate of the force after an EAC summit in late November.
The DRC has requested a different force from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to replace the EAC troops, but the date of its arrival and the length of its mandate has not been announced. The SADC is a regional bloc that includes Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The strategic reshuffling comes amid the worsening security situation in the eastern DRC, where the government declared a state of siege two years ago to address the rising militia violence. The clashes with the M23 rebels have moved closer to Goma, the capital of North Kivu, in recent weeks, raising concerns over the impact on the upcoming elections.
The DRC is scheduled to hold presidential, legislative, and regional elections on 20 December, after several delays and controversies. The elections are seen as a crucial test for the country’s fragile democracy and stability, as well as for regional peace and cooperation.
The eastern DRC has been plagued by conflict for decades, since the end of two regional wars between 1996 and 2003. The wars involved several neighboring countries and rebel groups and resulted in millions of deaths and displacements. The region is rich in natural resources, such as gold, diamonds, coltan, and cobalt, but also suffers from poverty, corruption, and human rights abuses.
The international community has been supporting the DRC’s efforts to end the violence and promote development, through various peacekeeping, humanitarian, and diplomatic initiatives. The United Nations has the largest peacekeeping mission in the world in the DRC, with about 17,000 troops and personnel.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties, many Congolese people remain hopeful and resilient and aspire for a peaceful and prosperous future for their country and region.
Source: RFI
