In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a soldier from the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) lost his life on Tuesday due to an ambush carried out by rebels. The incident occurred in Kibumba, North Kivu, and while the authorities did not immediately reveal the soldier’s identity or nationality, a spokesperson attributed the attack to the rebel group known as M23.
Lieutenant Colonel Kaiko Ndjike, the spokesperson for the Congolese army in North Kivu, stated that “the M23 attacked with mortar fire, resulting in the death of a peacekeeper from the East African Community Regional Force on Tuesday.”
The Congolese army, in a statement, accused the M23 of directing mortar fire at the advanced positions of the EACRF, with the intention of implicating the Congolese army and seeking support and sympathy from the Regional Force. The M23 did not immediately respond to these allegations.
This incident marks the first casualty for the EACRF since its deployment in November of the previous year. The EACRF’s primary role has been to act as a buffer for civilian areas and engage in direct combat with rebel groups sparingly. However, this ambush, the second in a week targeting EACRF, suggests a potential direct threat to the force’s positions. The EACRF is comprised of troops from Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, and Burundi.
Notably, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have been in a continuous blame game regarding support for rebel groups that threaten their respective security interests. Both countries consistently deny these allegations. This situation may indicate renewed tensions between neighboring countries with shared ethnic identities in some of their border communities.
On the morning of the attack, the Congolese army accused the M23 of violating the ceasefire by targeting FARDC positions in Virunga Park, North Kivu. In response to this provocation, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo stated that they have taken all necessary measures to respond to any potential threats.
Furthermore, Kinshasa emphasized its commitment to respecting the agreements resulting from the Luanda and Nairobi accords, which call for a ceasefire between the M23 and the Congolese army. Recent clashes near Goma have also resulted in accusations by the Congolese army that M23 killed civilians. In response, M23 claims the right to defend themselves, alleging that FARDC uses allied rebels to attack them.
Over the past month, intense fighting has frequently erupted between the M23 rebels and the armed Wazalendo self-defense groups. The East African regional force was initially intended to assist the DRC in achieving peace but has found itself contending with over 100 armed groups.
Notably, in early October, Kinshasa declared its decision not to renew the mandate of the EACRF after it expires on December 8.