South Sudan announces deployment of 750 soldiers to eastern DRC

South Sudan is sending 750 troops to join the East Africa Force trying to bring peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, despite its own struggles to restore peace back home.

President Salva Kiir officially deployed troops to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to join an East African regional force aimed at ending decades of bloodshed in that country.

South Sudan’s Minister of Defence and Veterans, Angelina Teny said that since the country became independent this is the first mission for them to be part of in order to bring peace to the region.

The troops join contingents from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda, in what is seen as a test of the East African Community’s ability to respond to violence in the region and stabilize the country.