The East Africa Community has announced that they would be forming a regional military force that will fight against the various armed groups active in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). DRC joined the EAC last month and has been struggling with conflicts and armed rebels including an Islamic State province that has left hundreds of thousands of people dead and millions displaced from their homes.
DRC is home to one of the United Nation’s largest peacekeeping forces, more than 120 rebel groups continue to operate across large swathes of east Congo almost two decades after the official end of the central African country’s civil wars. The U.N. has previously accused neighboring Uganda and Rwanda of backing rebel groups in the mineral-rich region, accusations the two countries firmly deny.
Following the announcement, Nairobi has offered to mediate the talks between the armed groups and the DRC government to facilitate the disarmament and peaceful resolution of the conflicts and grievances mounted by the militants.
While there are no details yet on the size of the proposed force the militants have been given an ultimatum that stipulates that all armed groups operating in eastern DRC should unconditionally participate in a political process to resolve their grievances. Additionally, foreign armed groups, which include ISCAP must disarm and return unconditionally and immediately to their respective countries of origin.
