The commander of the East African Community regional force in DR Congo (EACRF), Maj Gen Aphaxard Kiugu on Monday, October 16, held a meeting with the heads of its contingents following an attack on a Ugandan convoy earlier in the day, in which at least two soldiers were injured.

Kiugu "took note of the increased propaganda against EACRF and called on the commanders not to be distracted but to remain steadfast in implementing the EACRF mandate,” the EACRF said in a post on X.

Kiugu’s meeting with commanders of troops from Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda happened amid a "surge in armed groups activities that continue to threaten peace and stability efforts so far achieved.”

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In a separate statement, the EACRF said the attack on the Ugandan convoy by an unknown armed group in North Kivu province was a "heinous act of provocation.”

The Ugandan convoy was coming from Kiwanja to Bunagana for resupply, when it came under attack at Rukoro, Burai area along the Rutshuru-Bunagana Road in Rutshuru territory.

"The troops fought through and proceeded to their destination successfully,” the regional force said, adding that an investigation was ongoing to identify the armed group and motive behind the attack.

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The Ugandan army said on Monday that the two soldiers were hospitalised while in a critical condition.

"EACRF remains committed to the protection of civilians in line with the mandate while upholding professionalism but has the right to force protection guided by the Rules of Engagement should EACRF troops be threatened in the course of discharging their duties within the Joint Operation Area in North Kivu,” the force said.

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Eastern DR Congo has been volatile for nearly three decades and remains home to more than 130 armed groups.

In November 2022, the East African Community (EAC) deployed a regional force to DR Congo to support regional mechanisms meant to restore peace in the country’s troubled east, and to observe a ceasefire between the Congolese armed forces and M23 rebels.

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However, the resumption of hostilities between the M23 rebels and the government coalition, which includes militias such as the genocidal FDLR, Mai Mai Nyatura, and Wazalendo youth groups, raised concern among regional leaders and peace facilitators.

As the regional, international community calls for a political solution to the M23 rebellion, the Congolese government has ruled out any possibility of peace talks with the rebels.

The M23 was defeated in 2013. But it took up arms again in November 2021, accusing the Congolese government of ignoring previous agreements and continued persecution of Kinyarwanda speaking Congolese Tutsi communities at the hands of armed groups like the FDLR.