DR Congo: EAC commander ‘implores’ troops to focus on mandate,The new commander of the East African Community regional force (EACRF) in eastern DR Congo, Major General Alphaxard Kiugu, has encouraged his troops to concentrate on their assigned tasks and learn from their experiences since their deployment.
On Monday, May 22, Kiugu conducted a visit to the Burundian contingent stationed in Mubambiro and Mushaki in the Masisi territory of North Kivu province, according to a tweet by the EACRF.
Kiugu, a member of the Kenyan Defence Forces, officially assumed the position of EACRF commander on May 18, taking over from Major General Jeff Nyagah, who stepped down and was subsequently reassigned to other command responsibilities in Kenya.
During the visit, the force commander was briefed on the present security situation, the deployment of Burundian troops within the EACRF, ongoing and planned operations, as well as the achievements of the contingent since their deployment.
Lieutenant Colonel Dismas Zino, the Burundi Contingent Sector Commander, informed General Kiugu that Burundian troops had successfully recovered stolen livestock on various occasions and evacuated injured civilians affected by attacks from armed groups in the area. The force remains dedicated to eliminating these armed groups.
Major General Kiugu commended the troops for their commendable efforts in safeguarding the vulnerable population and giving priority to security by conducting regular patrols to establish control over their designated area.
“To understand the needs of the people, it is crucial to engage with key leaders in this region,” Kiugu emphasized to the troops.
He assured them the force headquarters was “doing everything possible to ensure you receive the necessary support towards executing your tasks.”
Gen Kiugu “implored them to remain focused on implementing the EACRF mandate, improve on the lessons learnt since deployment and assess areas that can be reviewed to improve operations,” the regional force tweeted.
The force commander interacted with the local population and visited one of the reopened schools.
The EAC regional force was deployed in November 2022, with a mandate of supporting a peace process that would see the M23 rebel group as well as other militias withdraw.
The regional force comprising troops from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, and South Sudan has secured some positions vacated by the rebels in their gradual withdrawal.
Eastern DR Congo is home to more than 120 foreign and local armed groups, which are responsible for various atrocities.
Multiple interventions, including one of the United Nations’ largest peacekeeping missions (MONUSCO), have failed to end decades of violence in the country.
Earlier in May the Southern African Development Community (SADC) announced that it would deploy troops to eastern DR Congo to combat armed groups and restore security ahead of national elections later in 2023.
