UPDF troops in final touches to deploy in DRC
UPDF troops are in final touches to deploy in the DRC under the East African Community regional force.
This has been revealed by the Spokesperson of the UPDF and Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye.
Kulayigye has in a tweet revealed that the force is currently undergoing final mentoring before they are inserted into Eastern DRC to join their Kenyan counterparts who are already in Goma.
Kenya’s parliament has since approved the dispatch of over 900 troops to the DRC.
On Wednesday, the second contingent of the Kenyan troops deployed under the banner of a regional bloc arrived in the war-ravaged east of the DRC, a mission that will cost taxpayers $36.5 million for an initial six months.
The creation of a joint military force under the command of Kenya was suggested by leaders of the East African Community (EAC) back in June.
The mineral-rich DRC is struggling to contain dozens of armed militias including the M23 rebel group whose recent advances in the country’s east have displaced thousands.
