[Rwanda Forum] DR Congo president slams regional force in east, hints at June exit | Monitor

https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/dr-congo-president-slams-regional-force-in-east-hints-at-june-exit-4229252

DR Congo president slams regional force in east, hints at June exit

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) troops are seen on the Mbau-Kamango road in the Beni district on December 8, 2021. PHOTO/AFP

• Dozens of armed groups plague eastern DRC, a legacy of regional wars that raged in the 1990s and 2000s.
• One group, the M23, has wreaked havoc since re-emerging from dormancy in late 2021. 

DR Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi on Tuesday criticised a regional military force deployed by east African nations to stabilise conflict-torn regions in the country's east, hinting that the troops could depart by the end of June.

Speaking during a visit to Botswana, Tshisekedi voiced concerns of "cohabitation" between rebels and the regional force that started deploying late last year.

ICYMI: People of east DR Congo reject idea of EAC regional force

• Regional military force in DR Congo raises 'balkanisation' fears

• Commander of EAC regional force in DRC quits

US warns regional forces against escalating tension in DRC

Dozens of armed groups plague eastern DRC, a legacy of regional wars that raged in the 1990s and 2000s.

One group, the M23, has wreaked havoc since re-emerging from dormancy in late 2021. 

The seven-nation East African Community (EAC) created a military force to respond to the crisis last June, with Kenyan soldiers deploying in November followed this year by Burundian, Ugandan and South Sudanese contingents.

"There is cohabitation that we have noticed between the contingent of East African Community and the rebels," Tshisekedi said at a news conference.

President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Felix Tshisekedi (3rd L) inspects a guard of honour  upon his arrival for a state visit to Botswana at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone on May 9, 2023. PHOTO/ AFP

"That is a genuine problem when it comes to the mission assigned, and also compels to ask, what is the purpose of the mission?" he said, claiming that except for the Burundi troops, others "are now living together with M23".

READ: Military deployments in east DR Congo

His comments come a day after a special summit of the 16-bloc Southern African Development Community (SADC), held in Namibia, resolved to deploy forces "to restore peace and security in eastern DRC". 

Tshisekedi said the EAC force's mandate ends in June, "and if we feel that the mandate was not fulfilled will return them and thank them for having tried". 

"We have the confirmation of the coming of SADC troops which we will have to put in place," he added.

Namibian President Hage Geingob on Monday emphasised the need "for SADC to work together with the East African Community... to better coordinate our efforts" to back Kinshasa.

SADC countries include South Africa, Angola, Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and the DRC. 

### "Be courteous to all, but intimate with few; and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence", George Washington. ###

[Rwanda Forum] Sista's Family Disrespected By WS In Belgium & Can't Believe It

Sista's Family Disrespected By WS In Belgium & Can't Believe It

https://youtu.be/JmA8xRE6suw

### "Be courteous to all, but intimate with few; and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence", George Washington. ###

[Rwanda Forum] Re: Guerre de l'Est : Après Kagame, le président kenyan appelle à la suppression des frontières artificielles héritées de la colonisation | IWEB RDC

According to President William Ruto, it's possible to have a border less East Africa. According to him, the borders are colonial and they must never be used to hinder our trade. According to Ruto, Kenya is willing to walk the path of borderless East African community.

https://ke.opera.news/ke/en/politics/e7239723402e8c05b886599131914cd3

Ku byerekeye gukuraho imipaka ya EAC, Ruto yarahushije!

Niba ashaka free trade nabaze uko EU yabigezeho itagombye gukuraho imipaka y'ibihugu.

Naho Kaaga we, nimumureke akomeze arote agenda!

Urwanda ntiruteze kugira ubutaka bwa Congo buhabwa. Ahubwo Urwanda nirutitonda ruzabura intama n'ibyuma:

"C'est le Congo qui a des terres à récupérer au Rwanda, et non le contraire", Prof Isidore Ndaywell.

"UNE PARTIE DU TERRITOIRE RWANDAIS ACTUEL APPARTENAIT AU CONGO", PROFESSEUR ISIDORE NDAYWEL.

https://youtu.be/F0EzaC5r0o8

### "Be courteous to all, but intimate with few; and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence", George Washington. ###

On May 9, 2023, at 2:22 PM, Jerome Ndiho <jeronimo2408@yahoo.com> wrote:



https://iwebrdc.com/guerre-de-lest-apres-kagame-le-president-kenyan-appelle-a-la-suppression-des-frontieres-artificielles-heritees-de-la-colonisation/

Envoyé à partir de Yahoo Courriel sur Android

[Rwanda Forum] Re: Guerre de l'Est : Après Kagame, le président kenyan appelle à la suppression des frontières artificielles héritées de la colonisation | IWEB RDC

SADC IRAJE KANDI NTIZONGERA KUGARUKIRA KUMUPAKA

https://www.youtube.com/live/jH50qsWJQP8?feature=share

### "Be courteous to all, but intimate with few; and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence", George Washington. ###

On May 9, 2023, at 2:22 PM, Jerome Ndiho <jeronimo2408@yahoo.com> wrote:



https://iwebrdc.com/guerre-de-lest-apres-kagame-le-president-kenyan-appelle-a-la-suppression-des-frontieres-artificielles-heritees-de-la-colonisation/

Envoyé à partir de Yahoo Courriel sur Android

[Rwanda Forum] Mu nama i Bujumbura Tshisekedi yongeye kwagiriza u Rwanda gufasha M23 - BBC News Gahuza

Mu nama i Bujumbura Tshisekedi yongeye kwagiriza u Rwanda gufasha M23 - BBC News Gahuza

https://www.bbc.com/gahuza/articles/czqn09pwwp5o

Uwaserukiye Urwanda, umushikiranganji wa mbere Édouard Ngirente, ntaco yashikirije. Ariko mu mezi aheze, Urwanda rwagiye rurahakana ivyo rwagirizwa n'indongozi za DR Congo.

### "Be courteous to all, but intimate with few; and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence", George Washington. ###

[Rwanda Forum] COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE EXTRA-ORDINARY ORGAN TROIKA SUMMIT, PLUS SADC TROIKA AND FORCE INTERVENTION BRIGADE (FIB) TROOP CONTRIBUTING COUNTRIES (TCCS).



COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE

EXTRA-ORDINARY ORGAN TROIKA SUMMIT, PLUS SADC TROIKA AND FORCE INTERVENTION BRIGADE (FIB) TROOP CONTRIBUTING COUNTRIES (TCCS).

08 MAY 2023

[Rwanda Forum] Southern African troops to deploy against rebels in east DRCongo

https://amp.france24.com/en/live-news/20230508-southern-african-troops-to-deploy-against-rebels-in-east-drcongo

Southern African troops to deploy against rebels in east DRCongo

Issued on: 08/05/2023 - 17:32Modified: 08/05/2023 - 19:10

The southern African troop deployment will bolster an East African regional military force in eastern DR Congo that has so far failed to thwart the insurgency © Glody MURHABAZI / AFP/File

2 min

Windhoek (AFP) – Southern African countries on Monday agreed to deploy forces to help quell violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where armed groups have terrorised civilians for decades.

A special summit of the 16-bloc Southern African Development Community, which includes South Africa, Angola and Tanzania, backed the deployment "to restore peace and security in eastern DRC", SADC said in a statement from the Namibian capital Windhoek.

The decision was reached at talks attended by several heads of states, including DRC's Felix Tshisekedi, his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa, Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan and ministers from the regional group.

The meeting did not give the numbers of troops to be deployed nor a timeline for the deployment.

Armed groups have plagued much of mineral-rich eastern DRC for three decades, a legacy of regional wars that flared in the 1990s and 2000s.

One militia, the M23, has captured swathes of territory in North Kivu since taking up arms in late 2021 after years of dormancy.

The rebel campaign has displaced over one million people, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Some troops from three SADC countries -- South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi -- have already been operating in eastern DRC since 2013 under the umbrella of the major a UN peacekeeping force MONUSCO.

"South Africa stands ready to contribute to the development of effective regional instruments that could assist to stabilise the current security situation prevailing in the eastern DRC," president Ramaphosa said in a statement.

'Immediate collective action'

The deployment will also add to an East African regional military force that has taken over some areas previously occupied by the M23 since December but has so far failed to thwart the insurgency.

The East African Community (EAC) force draws on troops from Burundi, Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan.

There is a need for SADC to work together with the East African Community and other (regional groups) in order to better coordinate our efforts in support of government and people of the DRC," Namibian President Hage Geingob told the summit.

SADC executive secretary Elias Magosi said: "We are regrettably noticing a very disturbing security situation in eastern DRC with the deterioration of the humanitarian situation due to the resurgence of the M23 rebellion and illegally armed groups."

Acts of violence intensified over the past year undermining the DRC's "sovereignty and integrity" as well as development prospects, as the country prepares for national elections in December, Magosi added.

"This calls for immediate collective action in support of the DRC to restore peace and security."

Tshisekedi is scheduled to visit Botswana, which houses the headquarters of SADC, for four days from Tuesday.

The DRC accuses its smaller central African neighbour Rwanda of backing the M23, something Rwanda has repeatedly denied.

But US and French officials, as well as United Nations experts, agree with the assessment.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday urged African leaders to redouble efforts to bring peace to conflict-wracked region.

Guterres addressed a meeting in Burundi of African nations that signed the 2013 accord to promote stability and security in DRC.

However, "Despite our collective efforts, more than 100 armed groups -- Congolese and foreign -- still operate today and thus threaten the stability of the entire Great Lakes region.

"It is time for the violence to stop. I reiterate my call to all armed groups -- lay down your arms, immediately," Guterres said.

© 2023 AFP

### "Be courteous to all, but intimate with few; and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence", George Washington. ###