Uganda Deploys Troops to Bunia Amid Rising Violence

Uganda has deployed additional troops to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), specifically in the town of Bunia, to combat local militia violence and rising ethnic tensions. This deployment follows an agreement between Ugandan and Congolese forces to conduct joint operations against armed groups, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which is linked to the Islamic State. Ugandan military spokesperson Felix Kulayigye emphasized the need to save lives amid ongoing massacres by militias. However, concerns have been raised about the potential for escalating conflict, as the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels continue to advance in the region. The Ugandan forces, already present in Ituri province since 2021, are seen as part of a complex web of regional dynamics that could provoke wider instability. Analysts fear that the situation may mirror previous conflicts involving Uganda and Rwanda in the DRC, raising alarms over the exploitation of the region's mineral resources and the impact on local communities.