The 300 SSPDF troops were flown to Goma from Juba Airport. | Photo: The City Review.

The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the withdrawal of regional forces from eastern DR Congo will require a ‘political decision’ by the East African heads of state.

This comes after the Congolese government hinted at the expulsion of the regional troops deployed to stabilize the conflict-torn North Kivu Province.

Felix Tshisekedi accused the EAC troops of “cohabiting” with the M23 rebel group instead of fighting them and said they could leave the country by June.

President Tshisekedi expressed frustration with the regional force, which he said was not operating as DR Congo had expected.

Commenting on the matter, Deng Dau Deng said a decision to disband the mission is upon the East African heads of state.

“This is a political decision. If there’s a need for contributing countries to return their force that will be the political decision by the East African,” Dau told Eye Radio on Wednesday.

He said the EAC discussed the decision in its latest meeting in Bujumbura, Burundi.

“It was discussed during the oversight mechanism meeting in Bujumbura, Burundi, and President Tshisekedi stated the same that what we want we need forces that will be fighting, not people who are going to monitor peace,” he added.

The official added that the EAC intention is for the force to force to fight the M23 rebels, but defended that they have so far carried out their mandate.

“We wanted people who will be fighting the M23, and the head of states and government advised that their mandate of these forces is very clear, and so far they have undertaken their mission and those who are in Goma have managed to protect that side of Goma headquarters.”

South Sudan has committed nearly one thousand soldiers to the regional operations against rebel insurgencies in the North Kivu Province, but most of the troops are yet to arrive in the mission headquarters.

This is in addition to thousands of soldiers contributed by Kenya, Uganda, and Burundi to fight the dozens of armed groups that have plagued eastern DRC.

However, the mission has been criticized for failing to quell the M23 rebelion that has terrorized the eastern DRC for many years.

On April 28, 2023, the Kenyan commander of the East African Community Regional Force Major General Jeff Nyagah resigned, further throwing the mission into uncertainty.

In his resignation letter, Major General Jeff Nyagah said he was leaving because of concerns for his safety after consistent harassment by forces he described as ‘mercenaries’.