By Edwin Waita
NAIROBI – Kenya’s President William Ruto on Wednesday formally deployed troops to japanese Democratic Republic of Congo to affix an East African regional pressure aiming to finish many years of bloodshed.
The seven international locations of the East African Group (EAC), which Congo joined this 12 months, agreed in April to arrange a joint pressure to combat militia teams in Congo’s east. The Kenyan troops will be a part of a contingent from Burundi.
Regardless of billions of dollars spent on one of many United Nation’s largest peacekeeping forces, greater than 120 armed teams proceed to function throughout giant swathes of east Congo, together with the M23 rebels, which Congo has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting. Kigali denies the claims.
Uganda has already despatched troops into Congo as a part of separate deployment to chase down an Islamic State-linked armed militants, one of many warring teams in japanese Congo.
“All of us have a stake in a secure Democratic Republic of Congo and its safety,” President Ruto mentioned at a send-off ceremony for the troops in Kenya’s capital Nairobi.
Ruto mentioned the United Nations and African Union had given “tacit” backing to the Kenyan deployment. A U.N. spokesperson didn't instantly reply to a request to verify whether or not the physique had formally authorized the deployment.
A U.N. supply informed Reuters there was some uncertainty round Kenya’s deployment as a result of Nairobi needed worldwide funding, which requires an official mandate from the U.N. Safety Council or the A.U.
“We've been working very arduous to mobilise the worldwide neighborhood to assist the east African pressure,” Kenya’s defence minister Aden Duale mentioned on the occasion.
On Wednesday morning a number of thousand individuals held an indication within the metropolis of Bukavu, japanese Congo, towards the regional pressure as a result of, they mentioned, a few of their “enemies” are member international locations of the East African Group.
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