The Ugandan army announced on Monday that by the end of this month, it will send 1,000 troops to the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to join a regional force tasked with putting an end to decades of unrest.
In April, the seven members of the East African Community, EAC, to which the DRC joined this year agreed to form a force to combat paramilitary groups in its eastern regions following the deployment of soldiers by the contingents from
According to Felix Kulayigye, a spokesman for the Ugandan army, Kenya and Burundi have landed in the region. However, because of Uganda’s involvement in the crisis in the DRC, some activist groups and government representatives have criticised their participation.
The first installment of $325 million in reparations for losses resulting from Ugandan troops occupying Congolese territory in the 1990s was made by Uganda to Congo in the month of September.
Hundreds of Ugandan soldiers have already been stationed in Eastern DRC as part of a separate bilateral agreement since almost a year ago to assist in the hunt for the ISIL-affiliated group 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 refutes the allegations.
The UN claims to have discovered proof refuting Kigali’s allegations. This year, the M23 launched a significant offensive that resulted in the seizure of territory, the eviction of thousands of people from their homes, and a diplomatic dispute between Congo and Rwanda.
The EAC said on Friday that Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda, and Uhuru Kenyatta, a former president of Kenya, had agreed that the M23 rebels must halt hostilities and leave areas they have taken over.