Congo president says Ugandan troops’ presence is temporary

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s President, Felix Tshisekedi, has stated that Ugandan troops’ presence in Congo, where they are fighting alongside Congolese forces against an Islamist militant group, will be limited.

Uganda and Congo have launched a joint operation against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group allied with the Islamic State, but have provided few details about the scope of the operation or its expected duration.

In a state of the union address that also addressed the economy and COVID-19, Tshisekedi stated, “I will ensure that the presence of Ugandan troops on our soil is limited to the time strictly necessary for this operation.”

Uganda’s intervention has sparked concern due to its army’s actions during Congo’s civil war from 1998 to 2003, when Uganda was accused of occupying territory and plundering resources.

At least 1,700 Ugandan soldiers have crossed into eastern Congo so far, and the Ugandan Defense Ministry has stated that its troops will remain as long as necessary to defeat the ADF.

On the economy, Tshisekedi stated that he had requested additional reforms from his government in order to increase revenue collection.

Reforms have already improved Congo’s economic outlook, with growth expected to reach 6.4% in 2022, according to the IMF.

“Despite this progress, too many in Congo are still struggling to make ends meet,” Tshisekedi told parliament, drawing jeers from several opposition MPs as he listed shortcomings in infrastructure and basic services.

Martin Fayulu, Tshisekedi’s main rival, had called for a sit-in at the electoral commission on Monday to demand the resignation of the organization’s head, who is perceived to be close to the president.

Throughout the morning, however, dozens of police officers blocked roads leading to the commission’s headquarters, preventing protesters from approaching.

Tshisekedi stated that preparations for timely and transparent elections in 2023 were already underway.

He also urged people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, pointing out that Congo has the world’s lowest coronavirus vaccination rate, with only about 0.1 percent of its 90-million-strong population immunized.

“Our compatriots’ situation is not rosy. I have requested that the government expedite the implementation of projects that will have a rapid and visible impact.”