Ugandan army deploys to town in northeast DR Congo

Voice of America
03 Mar 2025, 01:20 GMT+10

Kampala —

The Ugandan army confirmed Sunday it has sent troops to another town in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo to fight local armed groups, amid fears a raging conflict could spiral into a wider war.

"Our troops have entered Mahagi town, and we are in control," Uganda's defense and military affairs spokesperson Felix Kulayigye told AFP Sunday.

The deployment was requested by the Congolese army following alleged massacres of civilians carried out by a militia known as the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO), he said, without providing further details.

Mahagi is in Ituri province, which borders Uganda, where at least 51 people were killed on February 10 by armed men affiliated with CODECO, according to humanitarian and local sources.

CODECO claims it defends the interests of the Lendu community, mainly composed of farmers, against the Hema community, who are mainly herders.

Uganda already has thousands of troops in other parts of Ituri under an agreement with the Congolese government.

Last month, Uganda announced its troops had "taken control" of the provincial capital, Bunia.

Ituri is just north of the provinces of North and South Kivu, which at the end of January fell under the control of the anti-government M23 armed group, which the DRC says is backed by neighboring Rwanda. A claim that Kigali denies.

Analysts fear that Uganda and Rwanda's growing presence in eastern DRC could lead to a repeat of the so-called Second Congo War, which lasted from 1998 to 2003, involving many African countries and resulting in millions of deaths from violence, disease and famine.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kenya Star.

More Information

null in null

Africa

Section

India's T20 World Cup 2024 Triumph: A year of glory

New Delhi [India] June 29 (ANI): In Barbados, India ended an 11-year-long ICC Trophy drought, beating South Africa by seven runs to...

UAE welcomes signing of peace agreement between Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Rwanda

Abu Dhabi [UAE], June 29 (ANI/ WAM): The United Arab Emirates has welcomed the signing of the peace agreement between the Democratic...

Lhuan-Dre Pretorious smashes third-highest score by debutant for South Africa in Tests

Bulawayo [Zimbabwe], June 28 (ANI): Teenage sensation Lhuan-Dre Pretorious posted South Africa's third-highest score on a debut during...

Record crowds, global representation highlight 2025 Club World Cup group stage

PHILADELPHIA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group stage concluded with record-breaking attendance and unprecedented...

CHAD-TINE-IRIDIMI-SUDANESE REFUGEE RELOCATION

(250628) -- TINE, June 28, 2025 (Xinhua) -- A Sudanese refugee receives iris scan registration at the UNHCR register site after entering...

China's TEDA transforms Egypt's desert into blooming industrial hub

CAIRO, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Sixteen years back, what is now the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone was nothing...

World

Section