EAC Forces See Further Withdrawals as More South Sudanese Soldiers Depart from DRC

An estimated 250 South Sudanese soldiers have left Goma on Friday, marking a notable withdrawal from the East African Community (EAC) regional force stationed in the conflict-ridden eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This decision comes in the wake of Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, choosing not to renew the mandate of the EAC force.

The EAC, comprising seven nations, initially deployed troops in November 2022 at the invitation of the DRC authorities to reclaim areas seized by the resurgent M23 rebel group.

However, concerns raised by President Felix Tshisekedi and local residents about the force allegedly cohabiting with rebels, rather than compelling them to disarm, have cast uncertainty on the future of the deployment.

The South Sudanese soldiers reportedly departed from Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, on an early Friday flight bound for Juba.

Anticipated withdrawals of Ugandan and Burundian soldiers in the coming weeks are expected to culminate in the complete regional force withdrawal by January 7.

This follows the recent departure of around 100 Kenyan soldiers from Goma last Sunday.