Demokratische Republik Kongo

Rwanda wants the M23 rebel group to be part of the dialogue to restore peace in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a proposal that could potentially kick up a storm in Kinshasa.

A regional force set up to tackle militia violence in East Democratic Republic of Congo has been extended to September, a minister and a spokesperson for the force said on Wednesday.

Last Thursday, during the Council of Ministers, the new Minister of Defense and ex-warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba declared that the Rwandan army and the M23 were strengthening their positions "in anticipation of a general offensive" with the objective " the occupation" of Goma.

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Tuesday made another formal referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to ensure the court will focus on what it calls the systematic pillaging of its natural resources in eastern Congo by the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) and the M23 rebel group.

The new force commander of the East African Community regional force (EACRF) in eastern DR Congo, Maj Gen Alphaxard Kiugu, has urged his troops to focus on their mandate, improve on the lessons learnt since deployment.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) plans to send troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo to help fight rebels in the country's east.

[…] Separate decisions reached at the end of last week, and on Monday this week, show that the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) and the Southern Africa Development Cooperation (SADC) standby force will work hand in hand.

Rebels linked to the Islamic State group attacked a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo's volatile east killing at least six people, local authorities said Tuesday. … More than 150 people were killed in Ituri in the first half of April, according to the United Nations.

The Kenyan commander for the East African Community Regional Forces (EACRF) Thursday submitted his resignation letter quoting an "aggravated threat" to his safety and a "systemic plan" to frustrate efforts to address militia violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

DRC has called for a "truthful discussion" to clarify the actual role of the EAC mission.