A senior Congolese military officer condemned the Ugandan military chief’s recent threats to seize a northern Congolese city, adding to growing diplomatic tensions as the region faces escalating conflict.
Muhoozi Kainerugaba, head of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and son of Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, made the threatening remarks on social media last weekend. His posts were in response to an offensive by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, which has led to the capture of Congo’s two largest eastern cities since January.
The ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, the most significant in the region in decades, has raised concerns about a potential regional war involving the military forces of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.
Since 2021, Uganda has stationed thousands of troops in eastern Congo to combat another militia, though it has also previously intervened in conflicts against Congo’s government. Last year, UN experts accused Uganda of supporting the M23 rebels, a claim Uganda denied.
Rwanda has similarly denied backing M23, claiming its forces are acting in self-defense against Congo’s military and militias hostile to Kigali.
In his social media posts, Kainerugaba threatened to take control of Kisangani, Congo’s fourth-largest city, if M23 failed to do so quickly. He also vowed to arrest the governor of Ituri Province for resisting UPDF operations.
In response, General Jacques Ychaligonza, Congo’s military operations and intelligence chief, expressed “indignation” over Kainerugaba’s statements during a meeting with a Ugandan counterpart in Bunia, Congo. Ychaligonza made it clear that Congo was “not at all happy” about the threats, adding that earlier this month, Congolese forces had temporarily blocked Ugandan troops from crossing the border due to a lack of prior communication.
Ugandan military spokesperson Chris Magezi downplayed the comments, stating that the posts were not official and urged the public not to take them seriously. He reiterated that Uganda and Congo are working together closely in military operations against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamic State affiliate.
Congo’s Foreign Minister, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, echoed this sentiment, stating that the joint operations against the ADF were proceeding well, thanks to effective communication channels between the two countries.
