APA – Kigali (Rwanda) – The commander of the East African Community regional force in DR Congo (EACRF), Maj Gen Aphaxard Kiugu has held a meeting with the heads of its contingents following an attack on a Ugandan convoy earlier in the day, in which at least two soldiers were injured, a military statement confirmed to APA Tuesday.
Kiugu “took note of the increased propaganda against EACRF and called on the commanders not to be distracted but to remain steadfast in implementing the EACRF mandate,” the EACRF said in a post on X.
Kiugu’s meeting with commanders of troops from Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda happened amid a “surge in armed groups activities that continue to threaten peace and stability efforts so far achieved.”
ALSO READ: Ugandan soldiers shot at by rebels in DR Congo
In a separate statement, the EACRF said the attack on the Ugandan convoy by an unknown armed group in North Kivu province was a “heinous act of provocation.”
The Ugandan convoy was coming from Kiwanja to Bunagana for resupply, when it came under attack at Rukoro, Burai area along the Rutshuru-Bunagana Road in Rutshuru territory.
“The troops fought through and proceeded to their destination successfully,” the regional force said, adding that an investigation was ongoing to identify the armed group and motive behind the attack.
ALSO READ: Fighting resumes in eastern DR Congo; what’s at stake?
The Ugandan army said on Monday that the two soldiers were hospitalised while in a critical condition.
“EACRF remains committed to the protection of civilians in line with the mandate while upholding professionalism but has the right to force protection guided by the Rules of Engagement should EACRF troops be threatened in the course of discharging their duties within the Joint Operation Area in North Kivu,” the force said.
According to a statement by the Ugandan contingent spokesperson, Capt Ahmad Hassan Kato, the logistics convoy was attacked at Rukoro- Burai in Rutshuru territory at around 10:00.
“The UPDF troops tactically fought fiercely through the ambush and continued with their mission to Bunagana,” Capt Kato said.
He noted that two Ugandan peacekeepers got minor injuries on the heads and have since been admitted to Kisoro hospital for treatment.
The contingent spokesperson said investigations into the incident have started to ascertain the identity of the armed military who attacked the convoy.
“We condemn such a cowardly act on the peace keepers and we also warn that such attacks must stop with immediate effect otherwise the EACRF mandate gives the peace keepers the powers to fight back in self defence,” Capt Kato said.
The Ugandan troops operating as part of an East African Regional Force (EACRF) force entered the east DR Congo border town of Bunagana March this year under the mission to supervise the gradual withdrawal of the M23 rebel group, which has conquered swathes of territory in eastern Congo since taking up arms again in late 2021.
CU/abj/APA