Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) soldiers deployed under the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have ramped up security patrols in eastern Ituri Province following a brutal attack on mourners by suspected militia groups.
The Kenyan troops, part of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), are working alongside peacekeepers from Indonesia and South Africa, as well as Congolese government forces, in a bid to restore calm to the volatile region.
The joint operations, which include round-the-clock patrols across Komanda, Ngeleza, Bandiamosi, Bamande and Irumu villages, aim to dismantle illegal armed groups responsible for a recent wave of violence.
“Since the operation began a few weeks ago, the security situation in the area has significantly improved. Feedback from local elders, women, and youth indicates that the community feels safer and is now able to sleep peacefully, thanks to the ongoing patrols that we jointly conduct round the clock,” said Lieutenant Colonel Simon Seda, commander of the Kenya Quick Reaction Force (KENQRF).
KDF Intensified Patrol in DRC
This security presence comes after a mass killing that left several civilians dead during a funeral in Ituri, one of the most fragile provinces in the eastern DRC, long plagued by ethnic militias and rebel fighters.
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In addition to military patrols, the Kenyan contingent is also engaging in community outreach through Civil-Military Cooperation activities, seeking to win the hearts and minds of local residents weary from years of conflict.
He also pointed out the return of children to schools.
The United Nations and African Union have repeatedly called for coordinated military and diplomatic solutions to end decades of unrest in the region.
The latest surge in peacekeeping activity follows international outcry over escalating violence targeting civilians, particularly women and children.
The Kenyan Ministry of Defence reaffirmed its commitment to international peacekeeping mandates and stated that protecting civilian lives remains a top priority for all KDF personnel deployed in the DRC.
Mass Killing in DRC
Rebels linked to the Islamic State (IS) group killed more than 50 people at a funeral ceremony in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on September 9.
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Most of the victims were hacked with machetes in the nighttime assault by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) on a village in North Kivu province.
This is the latest in a string of attacks linked to the ADF, raising fears that its insurgency is growing in strength.
The ADF emerged in Uganda in the 1990s, accusing the government there of persecuting Muslims.
It is now based across the border in DR Congo and carries out attacks in both countries.
ADF has carried out a series of deadly attacks this year. At the end of July, it attacked a Catholic church, killing more than 40 people and kidnapping between 12 and 14.
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