In a major development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the East African Community (EAC) regional force has commenced its withdrawal after Kinshasa declined to renew its mandate. This move comes amid criticisms of the force’s effectiveness in the conflict-ridden region.
On Sunday morning, a group of about 100 Kenyan soldiers, part of a multinational force including troops from Uganda, Burundi, and South Sudan, departed from Goma airport to Nairobi. The deployment of the EAC force, initially aimed at countering the M23 rebel group, has faced challenges, with DRC President Felix Tshisekedi accusing the force of failing to disarm the rebels.
Kenyan soldiers from the East African Community regional force (EAC-RF) prepare to leave the Democratic Republic of Congo at Goma airport on December 3, 2023.
Despite the withdrawal, tensions remain high in the region, with ongoing clashes between the M23 group and the DRC army, supported by local militias. The departure of the EAC force coincides with preparations for the upcoming general elections in the DRC, scheduled for December 20. However, due to the persistent conflict, voting in two territories of North Kivu province remains uncertain.
While the EAC force is leaving, the UN stabilization mission, MONUSCO, which has faced similar accusations of ineffectiveness, continues its presence in the DRC. The DRC government has called for an “accelerated” departure of MONUSCO, which comprises about 14,000 peacekeepers, mainly in the east of the country. President Tshisekedi is also exploring the deployment of forces from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to replace the EAC, although plans for this have yet to materialize.
