Kenyan Government Deploys Troops To Eastern DR Congo To End Bloodshed

The Kenyan government on Wednesday deployed its forces to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of a force sent by the East African Community (EAC) to support regional forces to end decades of bloodshed and quell the perennial violence in the region, reported The Reuters.

The seven countries of the East African Community (EAC), which the DRC joined earlier this year as its 7th Member state, agreed in April to set up a joint force to fight militia groups in eastern Congo. The EAC is a regional bloc of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and DR Congo.

Kenya will be the second east African nation to send troops to the eastern DRC after Burundi. The Kenyan forces will be based in Goma, eastern DRC’s largest city.

Despite billions of dollars spent on United Nation’s peacekeeping forces in the DR Congo, more than 120 armed groups continue to operate across large swathes, including the M23 rebel group.

 The Congolese troops are currently engaged in a fight against the M23 rebels, which is accused of targeting civilians. The DRC government has accused Rwanda of backing M23, a claim denied by Kigali.

Kenyan President William Ruto also met with the troops at the Embakasi Garrison in Nairobi where he wished them a successful mission in Eastern Congo.

He said under the EAC regional force banner, the Kenyan troops are confronted with the responsibility of demonstrating the African Union’s clarion call, Africa solutions to Africa problems.

Ruto called the mission “necessary and urgent” for regional security, and said he and his DR Congo counterpart had agreed on how Kenyan forces would work with Congolese and other forces on disarming rebels and peacekeeping.

The Kenyan troops are expected to support the regional forces in protecting civilians, providing security and neutralizing armed militia groups operating in the country.