- Tongo is a strategic town located South West of Rutshuru town with a population of approximately 14,000 people whose
- Their main socio-economic activity is farming making it a bread basket for the population in Rutshuru and Goma town.
The Kenyan and South Sudan contingent troops under the East African Community Regional Force have been deployed in Tongo within Rutshuru territory.
This, according to officials will enhance the protection of civilians, opening up the Bunagana-Rutshuru-Rumangabo-Kibumba-Goma main supply route for the free movement of people and goods for socioeconomic development and enhance humanitarian support to the population.
The deployment of the two contingents in the area follows a successful reconnaissance on April 10, 2023, led by the contingent Commander Col Daniel Rotich who assured residents that the troops deployed in Tongo will work together with the population to enhance security in the region.
The Commanding Officer Lt Col Denis Obiero, who accompanied the troops to Tongo, said the deployment will enhance the dominance of the Rumangabo-Tongo axis through joint operations to secure the population.
Further, the presence of troops in the area and security thereof will facilitate the return of Internally Displaced Persons as well as resident administration towards restoring the social fabric.
The deployment is in line with the re-posturing of troops within Masisi and Rutshuru territories recommended by the Chiefs of Defence Forces/Chiefs of Defence Staff and approved by the Heads of State in the February 17, 2023 mini-summit in Addis Ababa that made the two territories a multinational sector.
Tongo is a strategic town located South West of Rutshuru town with a population of approximately 14,000 people whose main socio-economic activity is farming making it a bread basket for the population in Rutshuru and Goma town.
Elsewhere, M23 armed group partially vacated Bunagana and Chengerero in the latest verification of the ongoing withdrawal in Rutshuru territory conducted by the Joint Bureau comprising the Ad Hoc Verification Mechanism (AVM), EACRF, Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) and East Africa Community Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (EAC-MVM) on April 14, 2023.
Uganda Peoples Defence Forces’ Lt Col Stresser Kakuru Nkwasibwe received the Joint Bureau led by the AVM Chair Lieutenant General Nassone João in the company of the EACRF Force Commander Major General Jeff Nyagah, Deputy Force Commander Brig Emmanuel Kaputa and Head of the EAC-MVM Brig Elie Ndizigiye.
He briefed them on the current security situation, highlighting the current operations and future plans of the UPDF-EACRF forces deployed in the area, notably the protection of civilians, opening up of the Bunagana-Rutshuru-Rumangabo-Goma main supply route and enhancement of humanitarian support.
The Joint Bureau noted that despite the Bunagana border post remaining closed by order of the North Kivu governor at the height of the M23 incursion in June 2022, activities along the route have significantly increased, an indicator of improved security along RN2 resulting from full deployment of UPDF-EACRF troops in the area.
According to a statement, they noted that efforts are being made to reopen the Bunagana border post— a crucial cross-border trade and transit point between Western Uganda and Eastern DRC, towards enhancing trade between the two neighbouring countries.
The full deployment and total withdrawal of M23 from the current areas they are occupying to the designated cantonment area will usher in the Disarmament, demobilisation, community recovery and stabilisation programmes (PDDRCS).
The troops from regional countries are in the area to help fight various rebel groups that have been terrorising residents.
The ground includes M23. The M23, which is waging its most sustained offensive since capturing swathes of territory in 2012-13, has been accused of flouting a ceasefire process and summarily executing civilians.
The unrest has spurred anti-Rwandan sentiment in Congo and opposition to a UN peacekeeping mission.