DRC: Demonstrators want EAC force to leave

Authorities in Goma in eastern DRC on Wednesday clashed with demonstrators who were demanding the pullout of East African Community (EAC) force deployed in the east of the country to fight armed groups, Africa News reports.

Around one hundred demonstrators gathered in the eastern town to protest against the presence of the regional force, composed of hundreds of Kenyan and Burundian soldiers.

The demonstrators claimed the EAC force, to be joined soon by 750 soldiers from South Sudan, are not helping them to restore peace. “The EAC Kenyan forces, we don’t want these people to stay in our country as tourists. They came to help us, but until now they are doing tourism in our country. That is why today we are saying that they should go home, because we do not want to stay with tourists in our country”, demonstrator Gloire Bagaya told Africa News.

Frustration is mounting after the Kenyan military organized ceremonies to mark the withdrawal of the M23 rebels, and for the EAC to take back control, in two villages north of Goma in late December and early January, the media notes.

“We demonstrated today to push the EAC force to launch offensives as stated in the Luanda agreement. Unfortunately, the unprofessionalism of our Police, especially the General of the Police, they came and violently attacked us,” said another demonstrator identified as Lumumba Mumbere.

M23, one of the rebel groups, allegedly backed by Rwanda has been giving headache to the Congolese army in the east of the country. Authorities have blamed the group for several atrocities and crimes.

Former Kenyan leader Uruh Kenyatta has been mediating between the rebels and Kinshasa. He has managed late last year to snatch a ceasefire deal between the two sides and withdrawal of the rebel group. However, M23 has continued to confront the Congolese army.