DRC: Uganda Military Recaptures Third Town From M23 Rebels

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have captured Kiwanja Town in the Rutshuru territory, North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from the M23 rebels.

This raises the total number of towns taken by the UPDF in the region to three since their deployment to the region. 

On March 30, a group of 5,000 soldiers was sent to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as part of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) for a peacekeeping operation.

Col Michael Walakal Hyeroba, the contingent commander of the UPDF in DRC, said in a statement released today, Monday 10, 2023, that the successful deployment of Uganda contingent troops and the withdrawal of the M23 complies with the decision and consideration of the 20th Extra-Ordinary Summit of the East African Community Heads of State in Bujumbura, Burundi, in February.

“The summit directed for the serial withdraw and deployment of the East African Community Regional Force and the immediate posturing of the troops in areas vacated by the M23,” Col Hyeroba said.

He also stated that Congolese who fled their homes fearing a confrontation between the UPDF and the rebels are now free to return. 

“The East African Community Regional Force is a neutral force meant to secure a peaceful and a stable environment for feature stability and a creation of a condition for normalcy,” he said.

There are also a proliferating number of conventional armies operating in the region.