According to President William Ruto, only Kenya has sent military personnel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to fight the M23 rebels in that region.
Ruto claims that the other five East African Community (EAC) members—Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, and South Sudan—have not yet sent troops into the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
"It's accurate; Kenya is the only nation with forces present in the DRC. It's now agreed that five nations would deploy; Kenya has sent troops." In an interview with Aljazeera on Sunday, he stated. "We are waiting, and we have agreed that all the other countries will deploy by the end of this month.
We have reached an understanding over deployment numbers, a strategy, and the fact that this military intervention will run concurrently with the political involvement of M23 and all other fighting forces and soldiers on the ground.
The Head of State of Kenya said political and military tactics are in place to maintain the DRC peace mission.
A joint effort between the military and political tracks is required. And the EAC has reached a consensus on the next steps.
Army commanders from the EAC member states gathered in Nairobi in February 2023. They ordered the urgent deployment of troops from nations that had yet to join the regional force to Goma.
- The expense of not sending soldiers
However, Kenyan lawmakers accepted Aden Duale's argument that the cost of not sending troops would be greater than the deployment. Members of Parliament remarked that Nairobi had a personal stake in the pursuit of peace due to Kenya's growing commercial ties to DR Congo.
If the country achieves security, the Committee evaluating Kenya's traditional deployment, a law requirement, decided that DRC's accession into the East African Community earlier this year offers Kenyan firms a chance.
The soldiers will be a part of the regional force the EAC will send out to combat rebel groups that refuse to lay down their weapons. Yet, it won't be the only option.
