...formerly the Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Zaire, and who knows what else, not to be confused with the Brazzaville Congo aka Republic of Congo, which is much smaller and much more (for Africa) stable. DRC gave the world Patrice Lumumba and Joseph Mobutu, followed by years of tedious civil war. Its principle industry seems to be the production of corpses. With a population of about 74 million it has lots of raw material...
(DRC) after opting not to renew its mandate. On Sunday morning, a first group of approximately one hundred Kenyan military personnel, part of the multinational force that includes soldiers from Uganda, Burundi, and South Sudan
...a Moslem country located in the Horn of Africa. It is noted for its affinity for rule by ex- or current generals, its holy men, and for the oppression of the native Afro population by its Arab conquerors. South Sudan, populated mostly by the natives, split off from Sudan proper, which left North and South Darfur to be oppressed by the guys with turbans..., departed from Goma's airport, the thriving provincial capital of North Kivu, en route to Nairobi.
The aircraft took off shortly after 05:00 local time (03:00 GMT). A spokesperson for the EAC-RF on-site confirmed that the plane was heading to Nairobi, carrying only Kenyan military personnel. However,
corruption finds a dozen alibis for its evil deeds...
detailed information regarding the force's withdrawal plan was not immediately provided.
Kenyan soldiers had commenced arriving in Goma in November 2022, approximately a year after the resurgence of the M23 rebellion in North Kivu. Allegedly supported by Rwanda, the M23 had seized significant portions of the province. At that time, Congolese authorities had invited the EAC to deploy its force to reclaim territories captured by the rebels.
However,
corruption finds a dozen alibis for its evil deeds...
both the local population and the Congolese government swiftly became highly critical of the EAC troops. With the exception of the Burundians, they accused the regional force of coexisting with the rebels rather than compelling them to disarm.
Following an EAC summit held on November 25, the regional organization announced in a statement that the DRC "would not renew the mandate of the regional force beyond December 8, 2023."
The departure of Kenyan soldiers occurs amid ongoing festivities between the M23 and the Congolese army, supported by militias identifying as "patriots." A Kenyan soldier from the regional force had been killed on October 24 by shell fragments.