Uganda has sent over 1,000 additional soldiers to eastern Congo, raising concerns of a potential regional escalation.
The deployment, which occurred in the last week, brings the total number of Ugandan troops in the region to approximately 4,000-5,000.
Officially, the troops are there to support Congo President Felix Tshisekedi’s army against the Islamist Allied Defence Forces (ADF).
However, the region’s complex web of alliances has raised suspicions about Uganda’s true intentions.
The Ugandan army has denied any major new deployment, instead describing the move as a shift towards “offensive defence”.
Meanwhile, Congo’s Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya emphasized that Uganda’s forces are primarily focused on combating the ADF, but acknowledged that interactions with M23 and Rwandan forces are possible.
The M23 rebels, who are backed by Rwanda, have recently captured the regional capital Goma and are consolidating their hold on North Kivu province.
Uganda has been accused of supporting the M23, which is the latest in a string of Rwanda-backed rebellions to take up arms in the name of Congo’s Tutsis ².
The situation is further complicated by Uganda’s economic interests in the region. Eastern Congo is rich in natural resources, including gold, and Uganda has been accused of looting these resources in the past.
Experts warn that Uganda’s deployment could be a preparation for protecting its economic interests in the region.
