Yaounde, Cameroon – (African Boulevard News) – Following the expiry of the original agreement governing the deployment of the East African Community (EAC) force in eastern DRC, the Congolese government is hoping to review the terms of engagement of the regional force. The government is reportedly unhappy with the performance of the current force, which was deployed in 2020 to quell the increasing violence in the eastern part of the country.
According to sources within the Congolese government, Kinshasa is looking to revise the deployment of the EAC force by changing the rules of engagement and potentially extending its mandate. The force, which is made up of troops from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, has been operating in the DRC for over a year.
The EAC force has been tasked with supporting the Congolese army in its fight against armed groups in the eastern DRC. However, the force has been accused of failing to effectively tackle the ongoing violence in the region, with reports of human rights abuses and the displacement of thousands of civilians.
In a recent interview with African Boulevard News, an expert in regional security matters, Dr. James Mwenda, explained that the decision by the Kinshasa government to review the terms of engagement of the EAC force was not surprising given the challenges the force has faced.
“The EAC force has been struggling to contain the violence in the eastern DRC. There have been reports of human rights abuses and other challenges, which have made it difficult for the government to continue its engagement with the force,” he said.
The proposed changes to the deployment of the EAC force are still under discussion, but it is hoped that they will result in a more effective force that is better able to support the Congolese army in its efforts to bring peace and stability to the region.
In conclusion, while the review of the engagement terms of the EAC regional force is ongoing, it is hoped that the outcome will lead to a more efficient and effective force. The situation in the eastern DRC remains fragile, and it is essential that the government and its partners work together to address the challenges faced by the region.
