EAC, DR Congo sign agreement to deploy joint regional force

The regional force will be commanded by Kenya’s Major General Jeff Nyagah & one of the two deputies Brigadier General Emma Kaputa of the DRC

🔴 DRC will also do the following
1️⃣ Designate a Minister responsible for EAC Affairs
2️⃣ Remit the financial contribution of the DRC to the EAC as a Partner State
3️⃣ Constitute a team to negotiate a roadmap for the full integration of the DRC into the EAC
4️⃣ Appoint a Defence Liaison Officer (DLO) – a person not below the rank of a Full Colonel
5️⃣ Nominate a Judge to the First Instance Division of the East African Court of Justice
6️⃣ Elect 9 Members to the 5th Assembly of the East African Legislative Assembly

Kinshasa, DRC | THE INDEPENDENT & XINHUA | The East African Community (EAC) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has signed an agreement for the deployment of an EAC joint regional force in the bloc’s new member. The DRC has faced instability that has been ongoing for over two decades.

A statement issued late Friday by the EAC headquarters in Tanzania’s northern city of Arusha states that the President of the DRC Félix Antoine Tshisekedi presided over the signing of the agreement giving green light to the deployment of the EAC Joint Regional Force, led by the Armed Forces of the DRC in Eastern DRC, to fight the “negative forces”.

“My highest wish is for the Regional Force to be successful and allow the country to turn over and focus on the economic and social growth of the country, that will see it transform and shine in front of the world,” President Tshisekedi noted after the signing.

EAC Secretary General, Peter Mathuki and DRC’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Christophe Lutundula Apala Pen’Apala signed the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) at the official residence of the President in Kinshasa, DRC.

Mathuki said the agreement is in support of the implementation of the decision of the 22nd summit of the EAC heads of state to deploy a joint regional force to fight the negative forces in the DRC.

“The agreement envisages an initial deployment of the EAC joint regional force for a period of six months after which the deployment will be evaluated,” said Mathuki.

In addition, the Secretary General noted that in order to facilitate the full and effective participation of the DRC in the activities of the Community as provided by the Treaty, the DRC needs to urgently take up six key issues including designation of a Minister responsible for EAC Affairs.

About SOFA

The SOFA outlines the obligations and responsibilities of the regional force while on DRC territory and the facilitation and support that will be granted by the DRC Government in line with the Constitution and applicable laws.

“The Concept of Operations (CoNOPs) which includes among others, a SOFA as its Annex, was negotiated by the Chiefs of Defence Forces of the Region and adopted by the 22^nd Summit of the Heads of State,” he noted.

The Force Headquarters has been established and key personnel appointed. These include; EAC Force Commander Major General Jeff Nyagah from Kenya and one of the two deputies Brigadier General Emma Kaputa of the DRC. The region expects substantial force deployment in the upcoming days.

The President dubbed the mission as delicate for the Community and called on the use of diplomacy as agreed on under the Nairobi-process. He further expressed confidence in the leadership of  President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was appointed in the 22^nd Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of States, as the facilitator to oversee the implementation of the Nairobi Process as provided for in the modality for the establishment and functioning of the EAC Panel of the Eminent Persons and for the deployment of Special envoys and representatives.

“It´s also important for there to be sensitization of the local Community on the objective of the Regional Force to quell any negative suspicion, so we can have peace in that area,” he added.

DRC to urgently take up six key issues

First, the DRC is expected to designate a Minister responsible for EAC Affairs who will be the coordination and liaison between the office of the SG and the DRC on all matters of integration.

The DRC is also expected to remit the financial contribution of the DRC to the EAC as a Partner State.

The DRC is set to constitute a team to negotiate a roadmap for the full integration of the DRC into the EAC as directed by the 22^nd Summit. This process is expected to bring the technical teams of the DRC up to speed on what needs to be done.

The DRC is also expected to appoint a Defence Liaison Officer (DLO), a person not below the rank of a Full Colonel.

The DRC is also expected to nominate a Judge to sit on the Bench of the First Instance Division of the East African Court of Justice;

DRC is also set to elect 9 Members to represent the DRC at the 5^th Assembly of the East African Legislative Assembly which commences in December 2022. The elections must be conducted in accordance with the Treaty.

The Secretary General is in the DRC where he is leading a mission comprising Heads of EAC Organs (East African Legislative Assembly and the East African Court of Justice), Institutions and the regional private sector led by the East African Business Council (EABC).