The third batch of Kenya Defence Forces to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) left Goma amid pressure on the M23 rebels to cease fighting.
Deputy Commander, Kenya Army Maj Gen Peter Muteti commissioned the third batch of the main body deployed to the DRC at Embakasi Garrison, Nairobi.
The contingent shall join their colleagues who left the country two weeks ago under the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF).
Maj Gen Muteti said the first batch is making big strides in bringing peace in the Eastern part of DRC and implored the soldiers to be good ambassadors of the KDF as has been the custom in all its previous missions.
“KDF is a professional, credible, mission-capable Force and we are proud of our brand. When we say you’re an arrowhead, we mean it since we believe in you. Let our motto of mission readiness be alive,” said the Deputy Army Commander.
He called upon the soldiers to abide by the law and protect humanity even as they endeavor to bring lasting peace in DRC and ultimately in the region and even internationally.
He relayed his message of goodwill to the soldiers during their tour of duty and exuded confidence that the Kenyan troops shall return to the country victorious having neutralized the threat.
Kenya has also sent its troops for a peacekeeping mission in the region, as part EACRF.
President William Ruto ordered the deployment of 903 soldiers from KDF to join a regional peacekeeping mission EACRF-DRC.
The Kenyan troops will join others from Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania on the mission in Eastern DRC.
A mostly Congolese Tutsi group, the M23 (the March 23 Movement) leapt to prominence in 2012 when it briefly captured Goma before being driven out.
After lying dormant for years, the rebels took up arms again in late 2021, claiming the DRC had failed to honour a pledge to integrate them into the army, among other grievances.
The resurgence has ratcheted up diplomatic tensions, with the DRC accusing its smaller neighbour Rwanda of backing the group.
Rwanda denies providing any support for the M23 and accuses the Congolese army of colluding with the Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) — a notorious Hutu rebel movement involved in the 1994 genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is leading peace talks in the region.
