Kenyan troops depart Goma, DRC
The East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) completed its withdrawal from Goma this morning, citing a mix of successes and setbacks during its stay in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Kenyan troops boarded a plane at Goma International Airport in Eastern DRC on Thursday morning. They will be received by Chief of Defence Forces, General Francis Ogolla.
Announcing the departure of the last troops, consisting of critical units and staff based at the force’s headquarters in Goma, Major General Alphaxard Kiugu said the force had achieved its mandate, but regretted that armed groups had returned to areas that the force had earlier vacated.
“Despite the successes, there remains several sticking points. Topping this list are the posturing of various armed groups in areas vacated by
EACRF, return of M23 in the initially vacated locations, proliferation of armed groups exploiting the existing gaps, inter-armed group clashes, negative propaganda against the regional force, the slow progress of the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization Program (P-DDRCS),” he said during a press briefing at the force’s headquarters in DRC.
The EACRF was deployed to eastern DRC in November last year, at a time when the March 23 Movement (M23) was making landslide gains, seizing areas bordering Rwanda and Uganda, such as Bunagana, Rutshuru and Rumangabo in North Kivu, and threatening Goma and its environs.
Its mandate was initially for six months but was subsequently extended until September 8, 2023 and then until December 8, 2023, after which the DRC government decided not to renew it.
The mandate required the force to plan and conduct operations with the Congolese army, the FARDC, to defeat armed groups, to support the DRC in cooperation with humanitarian agencies, to continue humanitarian assistance to populations affected by armed groups and activities, and to support the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Community Recovery and Stabilisation Programme (P-DDRCS).
“This deployment registered varied successes in the Joint area of operation. Critical was the protection of civilians and the enforcement of the M23-FARDC ceasefire,” Maj Gen Kiugu said.
The force also helped open the main supply routes, preventing direct threats to the cities of Goma and Sake, which led to the gradual return of IDPs to their rural homes, particularly in Sake, Kirolirwe, Kitchanga and Mweso in Masisi territory, and in Kibumba, Rumangabo, Kiwanja and Bunagana in Nyiragongo and Rutshuru territories.
“Unfortunately, the ceasefire lasted between March 7 to October 6, 2023, when it was breached following the resumption of hostilities between M23 and FARDC,” he added.
“Handing over to SADC (South African Development Community troops, who have begun arriving in Goma) was not planned but I desired that we hand over to them before we exit. We did not have the opportunity to discuss it and that is why it has not happened. That is why M23 has taken advantage of the gap to return to vacated areas.”
He called on regional and international actors to continue supporting efforts to bring lasting peace and stability to eastern DRC.
“As North Kivu prepares to usher in the Southern African Development Community Mission in DRC (SAMIDRC), we wish them every success,” said the force commander.
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