NAIROBI – The East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been extended by three months pending an evaluation report from the Council of Ministers.
The decision was made on Tuesday during the EAC Heads of State at their 22nd Extraordinary Summit in Nairobi.
Among the leaders who were present were EAC chairman President Evariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), William Ruto (Kenya) Salva Kiir (South Sudan), Samia Suluhu Hassan (Tanzania), Paul Kagame (Rwanda) Prime Ministers Jean Lukonde (DRC) representing President Felix Tshisekedi, and Deputy Prime Minister and EAC minister Rebecca Kadaga (Uganda), representing President Yoweri Museveni,
The EACRF mandate was due to expire on September 8.
The Summit also took note of the $2 million contribution by the African Union Commission towards EACRF.
“The Heads of State took note of the operational milestones by the EAC regional force in restoring security in eastern DRC,” the communique said.
President William Ruto said the pursuit for peace and stability in the DRC is for the prosperity of the region.
“The imperative to focus greater effort in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is necessary, appropriate, urgent and fully within our legitimate mandate as the the country’s immediate neighbourhood,” he said.
The regional military force was first deployed to eastern DRC from November last year to bring peace in the eastern DRC. The force is made up of Kenyan, Ugandan, Burundian and South Sudanese soldiers.
In June, the seven EAC countries announced that they have extended until September the EACRF mandate.
