Scores of Kenyan troops departed from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, signaling the commencement of the withdrawal of a regional force following Kinshasa’s decision not to extend its mandate in combating M23 rebels.
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has voiced consistent criticism of the East African Community force since its deployment in November 2022, citing failure to enforce the removal of the M23, a rebel faction claiming to represent the interests of ethnic Tutsis.
The presidency declared its decision not to renew the mandate after an EAC summit held late in November.
As the mandate is set to expire on December 8, Kenyan soldiers were observed lining up on Sunday to board two planes at the Goma airport in eastern Congo, as reported by a Reuters journalist.
A separate force from the Southern African Development Community is expected to replace the EAC troops, although the date of its arrival and the duration of its mandate have not yet been disclosed.
This strategic repositioning underscores the challenges in stabilizing the eastern provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. Congo declared a state of siege two years ago to address escalating militia violence.
Recent clashes with the M23 rebels have moved closer to Goma in recent weeks, heightening concerns that the insecurity could disrupt the presidential, legislative, and regional elections scheduled for December 20.
Conflict in the region has ebbed and surged since the conclusion of two regional wars between 1996 and 2003. Escalations in violence have resulted in a record 6.9 million people displaced within Congo, predominantly in the east, according to the International Organization for Migration.
