JUBA – South Sudan on Wednesday started deployment of its forces contribution to the DR Congo.
President Salva Kiir and Minister for Defence Angelina Teny bid farewell to South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) troops joining East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) in the peacekeeping mission in the eastern DRC at the army headquarters in Bilpam, Juba. This was after a four-month training in Juba.
President Kiir asked the 720 soldiers to respect human rights, while Minister Angelina urged them to restore peace to the region. The troops comprise of military police, military intelligence, signal corps, engineering corps, administration, logistics and infantry units.
In his farewell message, the President urged the unified forces to promote image of South Sudan in DRC, telling the troops to complete their mission and return home with heads up.
Kiir is quoted by South Sudan-based media outlet Eye Radio as telling the soldiers to be disciplined in their mission.
“It is a similar reason that you are going to Congo today, we have something here called UNMISS, UNISFA, and many more. We have all these here because of the fight you did here… SPLA during the liberation struggle was very disciplined. I don’t want you to go and cause chaos or disorder, don’t go and engage in the raping of women and girls,” Eye Radio quoted President Kiir as saying, adding that, “Don’t go and take properties of others in shops, or from civilians, that is not what you are there for.”
He also said the unified forces do not belong to any tribe or party and should promote good image of the country.
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Minister Teny said South Sudan is important to regional peace and security, urging the international community to recognize its importance in restoring regional peace and security as forces deploy to DRC.
The violence caused by various armed groups in eastern DRC prompted the EAC states in June 2022 to deploy a regional that could comprise up to 12,000 troops from member states.
The force will be under the Kenyan command, which has already deployed, to support the DRC’s national forces in containing, defeating and eradicating negative forces in the restive eastern region.
Kenya has already deployed forces, who are already on the ground, while Uganda announced it would send troops by the end of November.
Burundi was the first country to deploy in August, while the DRC has rejected Rwanda’s participation on its territory, arguing that Kigali is backing M23, one of the key armed groups in the eastern region.
Tanzania appears hesitant in the deployment, although at the EAC summit, Foreign Minister Stergomena Tax, who represented President Suluhu Hassan said the country was committed to the decisions of the summit.
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