A South Sudanese military contingent has joined the East African Community (EAC) military force in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The move aims to bring stability to the region, which has been affected by the M23 rebellion. The EAC force is made up of personnel from seven countries, including Kenya, Burundi, Uganda, and South Sudan. It was established in June 2018 to monitor the relocation of the M23 insurgents.
Since the end of 2021, M23 rebels have taken over large parts of the North Kivu province and have come dangerously close to the capital city, Goma. The rebels emerged from inactivity, claiming that the government had not kept its pledge to incorporate their fighters into the military. The Congolese army was then defeated by the M23 in a series of battles, leading to significant territorial gains in North Kivu, which caused a humanitarian emergency as many people had to escape the advancing forces.
Efforts to calm the hostility between the parties have not been successful on a regional level. On March 7, a ceasefire had been arranged with the help of Angola; however, it was short-lived and soon came to an end. On February 15th, the EAC accepted a schedule that would see the conclusion of the withdrawal of all armed groups on March 30th, but the due date was not adhered to.
On Sunday, a contingent of 45 South Sudanese soldiers arrived in Goma, with further reinforcements expected in the near future. The size of the South Sudanese force and its location of deployment remain uncertain. Back in December, South Sudan reported that 750 of its troops were going to be sent to the DRC.
Captain Kato Ahmad Hassan, spokesperson for the recently-arrived Ugandan contingent, declared on Sunday that the troops would act as a “neutral force” and not engage the M23. He mentioned that the M23 fighters are anticipated to abandon the zones held by the Ugandan armed forces as per the proposed arrangement. However, many people in the Congo have become more skeptical of their troops since it is apparent that the M23 will not be met with confrontation.
Dozens of armed groups, left over from conflicts in the 1990s and 2000s, are causing problems for much of the area. Substantial parts of North Kivu are still in the hands of the rebel forces, and they have almost completely encircled Goma, with Rwanda to its east and Lake Kivu to its south. The DRC has charged Rwanda, its smaller neighbor, with supporting the M23, a charge backed by the United States, a number of Western nations, and UN investigators who are not affiliated with the government. Rwanda has denied these claims.
Although a period of respite from major conflict between the Congolese armed forces and M23 has been in place for a number of weeks, clashes with other militias persist, and security concerns are still prevalent. This past weekend, local officials, medical sources, and residents reported 14 fatalities due to various attacks in North Kivu, though the details of the incidents remain uncertain.
This deployment follows the establishment of the East African Community (EAC) troops, made up of personnel from seven countries, in June 2018. The EAC force has been tasked with monitoring the relocation of M23 insurgents, who have taken over large parts of the North Kivu province since the end of 2021 and have come dangerously close to the capital city of Goma.
The arrival of the South Sudanese troops is expected to bolster the EAC force in its mission to bring about stability to the region. The size and location of the South Sudanese force remain uncertain, though in December, South Sudan reported that 750 of its troops would be sent to the DRC. The deployment of additional reinforcements is also anticipated in the near future.
Image Credit: Samir Bol/AFP
