Kenya Deploys Soldiers to Support Troubled Neighbor

Kenya has sent troops to assist a neighboring country experiencing turmoil, aiming to provide support and stabilize the region.

In response to renewed clashes between rebels and the army in DR Congo’s volatile eastern region, Kenya has dispatched a group of soldiers.

On Sunday, the Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) declared that the troops constitute KENQRF 4’s first contingent heading to DR Congo. The group is set to collaborate with MONUSCO in their efforts against armed factions who contribute to turmoil within the country, as per an army statement.

“Our soldiers are fully ready for the mission ahead. Their preparation has involved rigorous training which provided them with all necessary skills to execute the task effectively,” stated Lieutenant Colonel Simon Seda, commander of KENQRF 4, during their sendoff ceremony on Saturday.

He added that they are dedicated to helping restore peace and stability in the DRC.

The M23 rebel movement has been fueling the ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo since 2022, purportedly with aid from Rwandan government troops. Despite these claims, Rwanda refutes any involvement.

The M23 allegedly took control of Kirumba, the primary economic center in Congo’s Lubero region and the nearby town of Kanyabayonga towards the end of June.

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In the previous month, Angola’s government reported that they had successfully led negotiations for a ceasefire between DR Congo officials, Rwanda and rebels. The agreement was scheduled to commence at 12:00 AM on August 4th.

Renewed hostilities were reported in the North Kivu province on Sunday by both the DRC army and M23 rebels. Accusations of violating the Angola ceasefire agreement were exchanged between both parties.

Early Sunday morning, the militant group accused state forces of attacking Kirumba and its densely populated surroundings. They claimed that their fighters were professionally defending the targeted civilian population.

Clashes with the M23 were also reported by the FARDC in Kikuvo village, located approximately 12 kilometers from Kirumba.

According to UN estimates, the conflict in the unstable North Kivu province has resulted in over 1.7 million people being displaced, adding to a national total of 7.2 million internally displaced individuals.

Since 1999, MONUSCO has been deployed in the unstable eastern region as a UN peacekeeping mission. Last year, Kinshasa requested that approximately 11,000 troops withdraw from the area due to their supposed inability to suppress rebellions. Nevertheless, Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner informed Reuters in July that it was improbable for all of UN peacekeepers to leave because of “aggressiveness by Rwanda.”

In addition to Kenya, various African nations such as South Africa, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi have sent their soldiers to the DR Congo in order to aid its military forces in addressing instability.