By Oyintari Ben
Kenyan President, William Ruto, has informed that his Government deployed troops to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Wednesday as part of a regional military intervention to back the Congolese Government against rebels operating in the country’s eastern area.
At a ceremony in Nairobi, President Ruto stated: “As neighbors, the fate of the DRC is tied to ours.” He also mentioned that the regional contingent also comprises troops from Burundi, Uganda, and South Sudan who were dispatched “on a mission to safeguard humanity.”
East African Community (EAC) officials decided to create a combined force in April of this year to aid in reestablishing security in the area.
Ruto stated that the troops were “on a mission to preserve mankind” while speaking at a ceremony in Nairobi.
The future of the DRC is tied to our own since we are neighbors, he continued.
“We won’t let any armed organizations, criminals, or terrorists prevent us from enjoying our common wealth.”
The group, which will also have troops from Burundi, Uganda, and South Sudan, will be commanded by Kenya.
After Kinshasa objected to Kigali’s involvement in any operations within the DRC, a Rwandan detachment will be stationed along the border.
Nairobi military officials cited “clear security considerations” for their refusal to disclose the precise number of Kenyan soldiers engaged.
In the DRC, there already exists a UN force called MONUSCO, abbreviated in French. Earlier, the Congolese government invited Uganda and Burundi to send troops to the DRC.
The M23 rebels, a largely Congolese organization, started fighting again in late 2021 after going years without engaging in combat. They accuse the DRC government of breaking a deal to incorporate its members into the army.
In North Kivu region, recent militia advances prompted the UN peacekeeping operation to step up its alertness and support for the Congolese army last month.
The rise of the M23 has severely affected relations in central Africa.
Rwanda denies supporting the militia, as claimed by the DRC.
