The Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) has dismissd reports that Uganda is backing the M23 rebels in negotiations with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This development follows reports on social media since Tuesday morning just days after Ugandan troops entered the DRC to patrol the Rutshuru territory, which is under the control of M23 rebels.
In a statement released by the Defence Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye on April 04, he dismisses claims saying that Uganda deployed in DRC as part of the EACRF to enforce cessation of hostilities. He further explained that the only bilateral security ties with the EAC country is operation Shujja that is collective regional effort.
“Uganda is not mandated to negotiate on behalf of the M23. The Conclave of EAC Heads of State already chose a political facilitator( HE Uhuru Kenyatta). Uganda is however deployed in DRC as part of the EACRF to enforce cessation of hostilities btn FARDC and M23 and monitoring their withdrawal to designated containment areas. So how do we handle an EAC msn bilaterally? The only bilateral security arrangement we r handling with DRC is the Jt Opn Shujja.”said Kulayigye
Major General Jeff Nyaggah, the EAC regional force overall commander, had earlier said that the UPDF and other troops from Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan are not in North Kivu to fight against M23 but to observe the implementation of the ceasefire and withdraw as peace deals continue. Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni, also emphasized this point.
The M23 rebellion against the DRC government began in March 2023. The government of DR Congo has accused Rwanda of backing M23, but Rwanda and M23 strongly deny it. The rebels claim to be fighting against bad leadership in DR Congo, based on corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination.
Recently, the Commander- in -Chief of the armed forces President Yoweri Museveni clarified on the deployment of thousands of troops in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a statement released on Thursday last week, President Museveni explained circumstances under which 1000 troops were sent to Bunagana and Rushturu in North Kivu Province in Congo.
The President dismissed media reports that the soldiers were sent to attack M-23 rebels which is currently involved in peace talks with the government of Congo. He explained that the UPDF troops are on a mission to occupy and maintain peace at some areas that M-23 handed over to the EACRP while being a non -partisan force.
“Contrary to what I saw on Aljazera, Daily Vision and others reporting,we are not going to ‘battle’, ‘fight’etc the M-23 .The Congo government and the M-23, have agreed to a peace plan, which involves cessation of hostilities (fighting), withdrawal of the M-23 from some of the specified areas they had captured to other areas that have been agreed upon, etc,” Museveni said.
He added: “Our initial mission, therefore, is to occupy some of the positions that the M-23 has handed over to the East African Force as a neutral force, instead of the Congolese army which the M-23 see as enemies or armed opponents in their internal politics. We are, therefore, going to the Bunagana–Rutshuru area, not in order to fight the M-23, but to act as a neutral force as the Congolese use the time to sort out their political problems.”
He also encouraged the ongoing peace talks between the M23 rebels and the DRC government, noting that they to ensure that the problem is solved politically for peace to return to eastern DRC.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces-UPDF Commander of Land Forces Lt Gen.Kayanga Muhanga on Wednesday last week dispatched a large group of peace keeping troops to serve under the East African Community Regional Force(EACRP). The function happened at Bunagana border post in Kisoro distict.
Lt Gen. Muhanga explained that the EACRP does not attack hostilities but implement peace keeping as agreed by EAC heads of State.
“The EACRF is not going to attack the belligerents there but it is going to witness and ensure the implementation of the decisions that were taken between the Heads of States meetings,” the CLF stated on Wednesday
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