Uganda has deployed more than 1,000 soldiers to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the past week, near the region where the government is fighting the M23 rebel group, according to diplomatic and U.N. sources. This move has heightened fears of a regional conflict as tensions in the area continue to escalate.
The M23, a rebel group backed by Rwanda, recently seized control of Goma, a key regional capital in the resource-rich North Kivu province. The group’s advance has revived memories of the brutal wars in the late 1990s and early 2000s, which saw several neighboring countries involved and millions of deaths, mostly due to hunger and disease.
The new deployment of Ugandan troops, which is estimated at 1,000 to 2,000 soldiers, brings Uganda’s total military presence in the area to around 4,000 to 5,000, according to U.N. officials. Officially, Uganda’s forces are in the region to support the Congolese army in its fight against other rebel groups, such as the Islamist Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), under a mission called Operation Shujaa.
However, the situation is more complex, with accusations that Uganda has supported the M23 rebels in the past. U.N. experts suggest that Uganda, along with Rwanda, has backed the ethnic Tutsi-led M23 group, which is one of several Rwanda-backed rebellions operating in Congo.
Reports from Butembo, a town in the region, indicate that Ugandan soldiers have been seen heading south toward the front lines, signaling an increased military presence. Ugandan army spokesperson Felix Kulayigye denied the claims of a large-scale deployment, stating that the army had simply changed its “posture to offensive defense,” though he did not provide further details.
Congolese Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya confirmed that Ugandan forces are in the area, but he stressed that their main objective is to combat the ADF, even though clashes with M23 forces and Rwandan soldiers are possible.
M23 rebels, who have taken control of much of North Kivu province, are now focused on moving further south towards Bukavu, around 200 kilometers from Goma. Despite facing resistance from Congolese and Burundian forces, M23 has stated that it does not intend to capture the city.
Uganda and Rwanda have both previously intervened in eastern Congo under the guise of protecting their borders, but have faced accusations of exploiting the region’s vast natural resources, especially gold. These actions have raised suspicions about their true intentions in the area.
Zobel Behalal, an expert at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, argued that eastern Congo’s resources are crucial to both Uganda and Rwanda’s economies. He suggested that Uganda’s recent military surge is a strategic move to protect its economic interests in the region as the conflict spreads.
Uganda has also been involved in fighting the ADF, an Islamist militant group with roots in Uganda but based in Congo since the late 1990s. Recent airstrikes and ground operations have disrupted ADF activities, forcing the group to flee its strongholds.
The situation remains tense, with Uganda’s military presence raising concerns about the country’s role in the ongoing conflict and its alliances in the region.
