Two Ugandan peacekeepers injured in DRC ambush

Kivu, DRC | THE INDEPENDENT |  An unidentified militia has ambushed a convoy of Ugandan peace troops in the war-torn North Kivu province, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The ambush occurred on Monday evening in the Rukoro-Buari area along the Rutshuru-Bunagana road in Rutshuru territory.

Captain Hassan Ahmed Kato, Spokesperson of the Ugandan Contingent, confirmed on Tuesday that the attack took place as the logistics department troops were en route to the Uganda-DR Congo border at Bunagana from Kiwanja to resupply necessities. He said that two soldiers were injured by bullets fired by the armed group.

However, the troops successfully repelled the attack, and the convoy proceeded to Bunagana. The injured soldiers were swiftly taken to Kisoro Hospital in Kisoro district, where they are receiving treatment and are currently stable. Kato emphasized the need for such attacks against peacekeeping troops to cease immediately, warning that the troops have the mandate to defend themselves if necessary. He also stressed that the attack would not hinder Ugandan troops from fulfilling the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) mission in DR Congo.

The East African Community Regional Force Communications department released a statement on Tuesday, confirming the incident and announcing the initiation of investigations into the ambush. As of now, no armed group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, through their spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, condemned the attack against Ugandan troops but accused the DR Congo army and the Militia Coalition under the umbrella of Wazalendo (patriots) of ambushing the Ugandan troops as a means to disrupt peace restoration efforts in North Kivu through dialogue.

“We condemn with the utmost energy the attack against the EACRF convoy in Rokoro by the coalition of Kinshasa Government Forces FARDC, FDLR, MERCENARIES, RESERVIST MILITIA, and FNDB,” Kanyuka stated in a release. Neither the DR Congo army nor Wazalendo has issued a statement.

Last week, Héritier Ndangendange, spokesperson of Wazalendo, a militia coalition engaged in intense fighting against M23 rebels in North Kivu province, hinted at Wazalendo launching an assault against troops from Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan deployed in North Kivu under the East African Community (EAC) regional force if they did not assist in combating M23. He stated that if the troops were unable to confront M23, they should return to their respective countries.

The ambush on Ugandan troops comes at a time when some local residents and political activists in Goma city threaten to hold a demonstration on Wednesday, demanding the departure of EAC regional Force troops from Congolese soil, accusing them of failing to launch an assault against M23 rebels. Fierce fighting between Wazalendo and M23 rebels erupted earlier this month in Masisi, Rutshuru, and Nyiragongo territories. Wazalendo claimed to have captured 21 villages from M23 rebels during the intense fighting.

M23 accused Burundian troops of undermining EAC heads of state resolutions by handing over Kitchanga to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers and Wazalendo. FARDC refuted these accusations, asserting that Wazalendo was fighting independently while FARDC observed a ceasefire. Burundian troops also denied any such action, maintaining they were still operating under the EAC mandate.

New fighting began to escalate after Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo reiterated his statement during the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he stated that DR Congo would never engage in dialogue with M23 rebels, describing them as terrorists supported by neighboring Rwanda.  He accused them of continuously harming innocent civilians under their control and urged the UN Security Council to sanction all perpetrators of serious crimes in the DRC, particularly Rwanda, which he alleged acted under the cover of M23.

A few days after his statement, FARDC took over the Mushaki position, located in Bahunde Chiefdom about 40 kilometers from Goma city, from Burundian troops. Major General Peter Chirimwami, the new North Kivu province military Governor and area Commander of Operations informed locals and soldiers that there would be no negotiations with M23 rebels as they were backed by Rwanda. He added that the government army’s goal was to eliminate M23 from all positions.

M23 responded with a statement, asserting that they would not withdraw until direct dialogue with the government was conducted. An ultimatum issued by the DR Congo government to M23 to withdraw from all positions and surrender expired on September 25, 2023. In March 2022, the territories of Rutshuru, Masisi, and Nyiragongo experienced security turmoil when the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, led by Bertrand Bisimwa and General Sultan Makenga, launched a war against the government.

The majority of positions were seized by rebels during fierce fighting. This conflict led to the suspension of the education sector in these territories until it resumed on September 4, 2023. Rebels began to withdraw from the conquered areas in December 2022 following the deployment of peacekeeping troops from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan.

However, Tshisekedi’s recent statement ruling out dialogue prompted M23 to reclaim positions they had previously ceded. The DR Congo government accuses Rwanda of supporting M23, but Rwanda and M23 vehemently deny these allegations. The rebels claim to be fighting against bad leadership in DR Congo, citing corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination as their primary grievances.

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