APA – Kigali (Rwanda) – The first batch of Southern African Economic Community (SADC) forces have arrived in Goma, North Kivu as part of the first deployment of regional troops to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to fight the M23 armed group, a military source confirmed last weekend.
SADC troops are set to replace the contingent of East African regional military force that has been accused by Kinshasa for failing to put a stop to the insurgency.
The M23 rebels have captured swathes of territory in North Kivu since taking up arms again in late 2021 after being dormant since 2013.
The Southern African bloc approved a military deployment to eastern DR Congo on May 8, saying the troops would “address the prevailing situation.”
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 UN peacekeeping force MONUSCO.
The M23, a primarily Congolese Kinyarwanda speaking militia, is one of more than 120 armed groups active in eastern DRC.
It briefly captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in 2012 but a joint offensive by UN troops and the Congolese army quelled the rebellion.
The group resumed fighting in November last year after accusing the Congolese government of failing to respect a 2009 agreement under which the army was to incorporate its fighters.
Kinshasa has always said M23, one of more than 120 armed groups active in eastern DRC – had received backing from Rwanda. a charge Kigali has vehemently denied.
CU/as/APA