![]() Uganda is supposed to take charge of Sector Two and Three. The Uele region which was created by the Belgian colonialists in 1912 also has some rebel elements of Seleka, Anti Baraka and CODECO, a loose association of Lendu militia groups.īut with South Sudan’s internal security challenges, it’s unclear whether the Juba government has the capacity and the logistics to deploy into the deeper recesses in the region that is rich with gold but abandoned and covered with thick jungles. The area has also been receiving refugees escaping fighting between the Central African Republic government forces and the rebels of the Coalition of Patriots for Change. It’s a fluid situation for Kenya which is supposed to lead the mission in an asymmetrical warfare against enemies who are accustomed to the dicey jungle terrain.Īccording to the document, Sector One, Uele region in the North East of DRC is under South Sudan that is supposed to send one battalion to deal with a few elements of the Lords’ Resistance Army rebels who have been dealing in illegal wildlife trade for survival. Out of the six sectors, the Kenyan troops face the biggest challenge of M23 in Sector Four which is North Kivu, where rebels have captured territory and are threatening to march and capture Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province. Rwandan troops will therefore deploy in their own territory along the Rwanda-DRC border, adjacent to the province of North Kivu and South Kivu as a block guard,” the classified document reads. However, DRC wishes that Rwanda deploys within the border with DRC. “Rwanda pledged to deploy in Sector Four and Five in North and South Kivu. In all the six sectors, every troop contributing country is supposed to undertake joint operations with the Congolese army except Rwanda which had pledged two battalions but the document says its forces must remain at the border as “a block guard”. The Burundian forces deployed in July while Kenya flagged off its contingent on Wednesday that will augment the already deployed units of its Special Forces, which have been undertaking a reconnaissance mission.Īccording to a 26-page classified Concept of Operations document signed by all army chiefs from the EAC member states in June, eastern Congo has been divided into six sectors with each country given a specific sector to pacify. This also comes as a bold and decisive step by the EAC bloc to resolve one of the longest standing conflicts on the African continent on perhaps the wealthiest country on earth afflicted by the paradox of plenty.Īlthough all member states agree that there is an urgent need to pacify eastern Congo in order to tap into its virgin market, the deployment is specific to the combat readiness of each country. The East African Community’s troop deployment to combat hundreds of militias, regional proxy armies and mercenaries roaming the vast green jungles in the volatile eastern DR Congo has kicked off in earnest. ![]()
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