The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo wants the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) out of the country by December 8, with Kinshasa signaling that it is disinclined to again extend the regional force’s mandate.

The current EACRF mandate was extended, for the second time, in September, for three months up to December 8. But according to Congolese Communication Minister Patrick Muyaya, Kinshasa will not allow the regional force to stay longer.

“The message is clear: the EAC regional force must leave DRC by December 8, as agreed, because it has not been able to resolve the problem, particularly that of the M23, which has been blocking the pre-cantonment process for two months, in accordance with the agreements signed in Luanda,” Muyaya said.

The move comes after the newly formed government-backed Wazalendo militia claimed that, they were blocked by EACRF from attacking M23 rebels, advancing on the key town of Kiwanja in Rutshuru territory, North Kivu Province. The town is under the control of EACRF.

In November 2022, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi rallied young Congolese to organize themselves into vigilantee groups, called Wazalendo, to support the country’s security forces in what he called a ‘hefty mission’. The Congolese leader made the call in response to what he alleged was a Rwandan “aggression” – in reference to claims that Kigali was militarily supporting the M23 rebel movement in DRC's east.

Areas formerly held by the M23 such as Karuba, Mushaki, Kiloriwe, Mweso, Kishishe, Bambo, Bunagana, Tchengerero, Kiwanja and Kinyandoni are under the control of EACRF. The M23 rebels had earlier willingly withdrawn from their captured territories in a bid to respect the terms of the Luanda peace agreement.

The Wazalendo militia backed by government forces, FARDC, the Rwandan genocidal militia, FDLR, and other Mai-Mai militias, seized the town of Kitchanga in mid-October. The town was previously controlled by the Burundian EACRF contingent.

On October 12, the EAC condemned Kinshasa’s actions and called upon all parties involved in the conflict to respect the ceasefire; noting that the renewed violence stood in stark contrast to the envisioned peaceful resolution of the conflict through the EAC-led Nairobi process, and had tragically resulted in the loss of lives, injuries and displacement of civilians.

Kinshasa denied any form of violence claiming that there were no massacres against the Congolese Tutsi community, and defended the Wazalendo.

“When compatriots [Wazalendo] defend the homeland you cannot say that they are negative forces,” said Muyaya.

The EAC regional force deployed in eastern DRC registered tremendous success in ensuring the observance of a much needed ceasefire, and overseeing the withdrawal of armed groups.

But Tshisekedi wants EACRF out of the country. While the Congolese President wants to go to war with the rebels, the regional bloc’s emphasis is on dialogue as the best path towards sustainable peace.

 

Tshisekedi’s hostility towards EACRF is based on the fact that the force did not fight the M23 rebels. He accused them of favoring the rebels.

The regional force has been the only peace keeping mission able to restore some semblance of peace and security in eastern DRC, by supervising a ceasefire for more than eight months. But Tshisekedi wants them out.

In May, Tshisekedi had given the biggest warning yet that EACRF would have to leave the country by June if they were not effective on the ground. While on a visit to Gaborone, Botswana, where he pushed for a plan B from the Southern African Development Cooperation (SADC) to send troops, the Congolese head of state accused EACRF of ‘cohabiting’ with the M23 rebels after the regional troops declined to enter combat.

“The head of state said that under the terms of the EACRF's mandate, by next June, if the results of its mission are not satisfactory, this contingent, which came to the rescue of the DRC, will have to leave Congolese territory for good,” the Congolese presidency said of his meeting with Botswana counterpart Mokgweetsi Masisi.

“The mandate of EACRF is ending in June, if by that time we assess that the mandate was not fulfilled, we will send those contingents home with honour and thank them for having tried to bring their share of contribution to peace in DRC.”

“We have accepted the EARCF to accompany FARDC to impose peace by trying to stop M23, which Rwanda supports. But, unfortunately, we have noticed certain contingents among this force, except Burundi, who is putting all the efforts in the mission as it was defined; other contingents are now living with M23, collecting taxes in the zone that they are illegally occupying. That's a genuine problem, and it also compels us to question the purpose of the EAC mission.”

Despite Tshisekedi’s harsh assessment of the East African regional force, the EAC Secretariat issued a statement and noted that in line with decisions of the EAC Summit, the EACRF has continued to ensure observance of ceasefire and in addition overseeing the withdrawal of armed groups who have handed over to the EACRF most of the areas that were under their control.

“The EAC is proud of the work that has so far been accomplished by the EACRF towards restoration of Peace and Security in the eastern DRC,” reads the statement.

The EAC Secretariat appealed to East Africans and the International Community to support the efforts by EACRF to restore peace and stability to eastern DRC.

The EAC stressed that it is fully committed to ensure restoration of peace and security in eastern DRC and any other part of the region. 

In June, Tshisekedi had no choice but to toe the EAC line since other regional leaders wanted the regional force to remain in place and ensure that peace prevails.

If push comes to shove and EACRF eventually leaves eastern DRC, hate speech, killings, and cannibalism, all targeting Rwandophone Congolese will continue under Tshisekedi’s watch, and with total impunity.

 

The reason for Kinshasa’s push for a quick withdrawal of the regional force is obvious. By fueling more insecurity and war, Tshisekedi will have a pretext to postpone the upcoming elections because he fears he cannot win.