Eastern DRC: Ugandan soldiers of the East African force entered Bunagana

The Ugandan contingent of the East African force enters the DRC through the Bunagana border crossing on March 31, 2023. AFP - GLODY MURHABAZI

Text by: Paulina Zidi Follow

2 min

The first Ugandan soldiers of the East African regional force responsible for overseeing the withdrawal of the M23 rebels arrived in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday (March 31st).

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It was around noon on Friday when the Ugandan contingent of the EAC finally crossed the border at the Bunagana post to officially enter Congolese territory. This contingent is in addition to the Kenyan and Burundian soldiers of the East African Community force already deployed in North Kivu province.

This arrival was officially announced on Wednesday by the Ugandan military authorities before being postponed several times. It was first necessary for the cadres of the East African force, present in Bunagana, to negotiate with the representatives of the M23 the continuation of the operations. "A classic protocol as every time the rebels have liberated positions," explained a local source to justify this delay.

2,000 men expected

In total, nearly 1,000 men arrived in North Kivu. The contingent is expected to eventually number 2,000. For Ugandan army officials, his mission is clear: "We are not coming to fight," they have repeated several times in recent days, "but to occupy, as a neutral force, positions handed over by the M23 to the EAC force." A position again confirmed Thursday by President Yoweri Museveni in a statement.

The deployment comes after March 30, the deadline for a full withdrawal of the M23, according to the roadmap adopted in mid-February by regional heads of state on the sidelines of an African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A deadline that has not been respected, but "this withdrawal will be sequential," added this Friday General Nyagah, Kenyan commander of the EAC force.

It was already announced. We heard how the Congolese government was a little reluctant about the areas where the different countries should redeploy. The arrival of Ugandans does not change these reservations. Moreover, the Congolese government already suspects Uganda of collaborating to some extent with the M23.

Reagan Miviri, researcher at the Ebuteli Institute

Paulina Zidi

► Read also: East of the DRC: the UN Security Council condemns the upsurge of violence

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• DRC
• Uganda
• Defense
• M23