Already embroiled in a war with Rwanda, the DR Congo have sparked new tensions with yet another neighbouring country.
The DR Congo have threatened to weaken its diplomatic relationship with Uganda if no official and public clarification by the Ugandan authorities over the recent remarks made by General Mouazi, commander-in-chief of the UPDF (Ugandan army) on social networks.
In a statement was issued on Thursday, DR Congo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner complained about the Ugandan army chief’s declaration to lead a military operation against foreign mercenaries hired by the the DRC and operating in the eastern region.
“We have been very clear that if these statements continue and if there is no official and public clarification by the Ugandan authorities on General Mouazi’s remarks, through his communications where he engages the Ugandan government, we will also have to reconsider our partnership and our relations. Rest assured that we are following the issue very closely. Our Ugandan partners are informed that we have repeatedly expressed our disapproval and that we will not hesitate to draw the necessary consequences,” Kayikwamba declared.
On December 16, 2024, Muhoozi, son and putative heir of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, also posted a statement on his X account (formerly Twitter) warning the foreign mercenaries who pose a security threat to their neighbouring countries.
“I will give a single warning to all white mercenaries operating in eastern DRC. From January 2, 2025, we will attack all mercenaries in our area of operations,” he wrote.
This statement comes in a climate of high tensions in the Great Lakes region marked by Rwandan army’s support offered to the M23 rebels who continue advancing in DRC’s North Kivu region.
