The fate of long-term peace in the eastern DRC may not be predictable at the start of the year, given the many groups fighting in the region. But that has not discouraged the East African Community Regional Forces (EACRF) from pursuing difficult military diplomacy.
This week, the EACRF, which until now had troops from Kenya and Burundi (Uganda and South Sudan will be added), has been sending messages of optimism, in favor of a political solution and in the hope of achieving peace without firing a gun. threw.
On Wednesday, the commander of the contingent, Colonel Daniel Rotich, led his troops on a reconnaissance patrol inside the towns of Rumangabo, Kisigari and Rugari in North Kivu province, speaking with locals and ensuring security.
“The patrols comply with the EACRF deployment in Rumangabo on January 5 after the withdrawal of the M23 armed group in compliance with the Luanda mini-summit on November 23, 2022,” an EACRF dispatch said.
“Today’s patrols were aimed at ensuring the safety of the locals and assessing their needs to find a comprehensive approach in addressing their challenges for peaceful coexistence for socio-economic prosperity.”
However, the M23, which had committed to a coordinated, sequenced and systematic withdrawal from Rumangabo, Kishishe and other areas within the eastern DRC, delayed the exit from the second occupied territory which was scheduled for Thursday. They were expected to leave Rumangabo on Friday, according to a new schedule after which the EACRF would take over and improve security in the vacated areas.
Read: M23 to withdraw from the second territory
The Forces say the handover of the territory is a long-standing move called by leaders at the Luanda Summit in November, but calls for continued collaboration between local, state and non-state actors in ongoing peace and stability efforts in eastern DRC.
In reality, however, the EACRF knows that pleasing everyone is hard work and you can get caught in the middle.
multiple fronts
Since the M23 moved out of Kibumba on December 22, there has been relative calm on all fronts. But both the Congolese army, the FARDC and the M23 have warned that there could be new clashes.
On New Year’s Day, the M23 said the country was still in “turmoil.”
“President [Félix Tshisekedi] has failed to deliver on its 2018 election campaign promises, in particular those to establish the rule of law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, eradicate corruption and end insecurity in the east of our country,” the rebels said in a statement. communiqué called “message to the nation”. ‘
This year, the army faces two challenges: doubling down on rebel movements in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo while protecting the vote scheduled for December 2023.
Also read: Tshisekedi under fire by EAC troops in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The FARDC say they will not negotiate with the M23, which they accuse of collaborating with “the enemy” (Rwanda).
The handover of territory has certainly not changed their minds, at least judging by recent FARDC statements accusing the group of selective handover.
This line of not talking to “terrorists” is also supported by a large part of the Congolese population who consider that negotiating with the M23 may not be a guarantee of lasting peace.
Also read: Complex violence challenges military operations in troubled eastern Congo
This suspicion has not been helped by the fact that the M23 abandons certain occupied territories while fighting on other fronts.
“The big challenge is to defeat all the armed groups, not just the M23,” said José Nawej, a public policy commentator in Kinshasa.
DR Congo has the largest number of internally displaced persons: 5.7 million people; 1 million people have found refuge in neighboring countries and 27 million are in need of humanitarian aid, UN figures show.
They say they are preparing the Army to deal with “cross-border crime and cybercrime” and the new policy provides for “the creation of a defense industry that has not existed in the country since independence in 1960,” according to the Minister of Communication and Government. Spokesperson Patrick Muyaya.
A defense proposal says that retired soldiers should form an army of reservists and that it should be considered conscription for young people.
