Kenya approves $37 million, ready to send 1000 troops to Democratic Republic of Congo

Africa, News November 11, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

The newly elected Kenyan parliament has approved a fund of $37 million for the deployment of about 1000 soldiers in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The deployment would be made under the newly established regional force.

The decision for deployment came two days after Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale met with the parliamentary defense committee. The first deployment would be carried out for a period of six months. The committee report stated that the $37 million cost would cover the equipment, allowances, and operation costs of the soldiers.

Earlier this month, Kenyan President William Ruto announced that his country is planning to send hundreds of troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo to join the regional force that aims to tackle the deadly tensions fueled by armed rebel groups in the country.

Ruto called the mission as “necessary and urgent” for regional security and said he and the DRC’s president had agreed on how Kenyan forces would work with Congolese and other forces to disarm rebels and peacekeeping in the country’s troubled east.

The Kenyan troops would be based in Goma, the largest city in the eastern DRC. The joint force initiative was agreed upon by the leaders of the East African Community (EAC) back in June this year. The decision for establishing a joint force came during the EAC leaders’ summit that was held in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame joined leaders from Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda while Tanzania’s ambassador to Kenya was also present during the summit. They all agreed to establish a regional force that would be deployed in DRC to quell the latest flare-up of violence sweeping the northeast of the country.

DRC is currently struggling with increasing rebel attacks. Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and M23 militia have been actively carrying out killings while capturing territories in the eastern part of the country. The heavy fighting has also revived the animosity between Kinshasa and Kigali, as DRC blamed its neighboring Rwanda for the recent resurgence of rebel groups.

*^{Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to help neutralize militia in the Eastern DRC. (Image Credit: KDF/Pulselive)}*

DRC’s President Felix Tshisekedi has accused Rwanda of seeking “to occupy our land, rich in gold, coltan, and cobalt, for their own exploitation and profit” and urged the international community to condemn Kigali. Rwanda has repeatedly denied backing the rebels, while both countries have accused DRC of carrying out cross-border shelling.

After approving the deployment of its troops in DRC, Kenya has become the third East African country to join the force. Uganda and Burundi already have at least two battalions stationed in DRC, while South Sudan has also sent one battalion to the eastern part of DRC.