Uganda quietly deploys soldiers into the DRC, UN reports reveal

Without public announcement, or to the knowledge of Kinshasa, Uganda sends around 1000 new soldiers deep into the territories of the Ituru province, Africanews reported on July 4th.

Ugandan authorities justified the incursion as a means to combat the threat of armed rebel group CODECO. The militant group have been held responsible for attacks against some of Uganda’s oil infrastructure on Lake Albert.

UN experts dispute this, attributing the Ugandan troop deployment as a move to secure crucial economic interests, particularly regarding the gold and timber trade. The soldiers have been stationed in Bunia, Mahagi, and Djugu.

Uganda is no stranger to positioning soldiers in bordering countries facing instability. Maghrebi.org, alongside The Associated Press, reported their military involvement in South Sudan during the contentious period in which the country was on the brink of civil war.

Uganda’s history of cross-border interference has raised questions about its intentions, especially amid allegations of deeper strategic ambitions.

Tensions between Uganda and the DRC were said to be escalating due to accusations of Uganda supporting the M23 rebels, who have taken control of large swathes of land in the eastern region of Congo, as revealed by Maghrebi.org and France 24.

Ugandan troops have been authorised on DRC territory previously, when in 2021 DRC officials approved their deployment in order to fight Islamic State-linked ADF rebels. The mandate has been extended; however, it is currently unknown how many Ugandan soldiers currently reside in the DRC.

As Uganda’s covert troops continue to march, the lack of transparency fuels uncertainty over their long-term goals and the impact they will have on regional stability.

Africanews, Maghrebi.org, The Associated Press, France 24