DR Congo: Zambian Troops Seize Muliro and Moba in Tanganyika Province
While the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to dominate headlines, a newly surfaced parliamentary report reveals that the country is grappling with a far broader and more complex web of security challenges along multiple borders.
The report, obtained by Radio France Internationale (RFI), highlights escalating incidents involving foreign military presence and armed groups across several frontier regions, raising concerns over territorial integrity and regional stability.
Allegations of Zambian troop presence in Tanganyika
According to the report, troops from Zambia are alleged to have taken control of two localities—Muliro and Moba—in Tanganyika Province, located in southeastern DRC.
Interior Security Minister Jacquemain Shabani previously addressed the issue before parliament in December, confirming concerns about the situation in those areas.
This is not the first such incident. In 2020, Zambian soldiers reportedly raised their national flag in Muliro, prompting diplomatic attention from the Southern African Development Community (SADC). At the time, authorities in Kinshasa announced that the troops had withdrawn. However, the re-emergence of the issue in the latest parliamentary findings suggests that tensions remain unresolved.
Multiple border flashpoints emerge
The Zambian frontier is only one of several areas of concern outlined in the report.
On the western border with Angola, Congolese fishing vessels are frequently intercepted by Angolan naval forces. Meanwhile, fighters linked to the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), a separatist group seeking independence for Cabinda, are reported to be crossing into Kongo Central Province.
To the north, along the border with the Central African Republic, armed groups including Seleka and Anti-balaka militias are said to be operating within refugee camps in Bas-Uele Province.
Further east in Haut-Uele, troops from South Sudan have allegedly entered Congolese territory near Faradje in pursuit of rebels associated with the South Sudanese faction known as SFA.
Persistent disputes along Congo River frontier
In the northwest, tensions also persist with the Republic of the Congo over territorial claims involving islands along the Congo and Ubangi rivers, particularly in the Libenge territory.
These disputes, while less publicized, have contributed to a steady pattern of friction between neighboring states and local communities.
The findings underscore the extent to which the DRC’s security challenges extend well beyond the high-profile conflict zones in the east. Lawmakers warn that the accumulation of cross-border incursions, armed group activity, and unresolved territorial disputes risks further destabilizing already fragile regions.
