APA – Nairobi (Kenya) – The last of a Kenyan batch of the East African Community regional force (EACRF) has left Congolese soil via Goma, capital of North Kivu, Eastern DR Congo, a military source tells APA.
Their mandate ended on 8 December, after authorities in Kinshasa refused to extend its duration.
Their departure is now completed, a military source confirmed on Friday.
The deployment of the EACRF was authorised by the EAC regional leaders at their 22nd Ordinary Summit held in Arusha, Tanzania, in July 2022.
The decision was made in response to the ongoing conflict in Eastern DRC, which has displaced millions and caused a humanitarian crisis in the region.
The EACRF was deployed in the territories of Masisi, Nyiragongo and Rutshuru in North Kivu, where it has been working in collaboration with the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) to support the political process, protect civilians and enforce peace.
However, the Congolese government ended the mission after accusing EACRF for failure to fight armed groups, including the M23 rebels which took control of several villages in North Kivu province since last year.
Reports said that dozens of Kenyan officers who formed the command staff of this regional force flew away to Nairobi.
A small defence and logistics component also left by the road, according to the same source.
The EAC force has been replaced by troops of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), whose first command officers have been in Goma (North Kivu) for a few days, military sources said.
Their arrival follows the implementation of an agreement signed on 17 November between the DRC and SADC, it said.
The deployment of the force was decided at the summit held in Windhoek, Namibia on May 7, 2023.
CU/as/APA