Military missions in Africa and Tutsi fighters from the M23 group

The Czech military, which has been in command of the now-suspended EU training mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) for two years, will cease to participate by the end of 2022. Due to the unstable situation  in Mali, a partnership with the Malian army  is no longer possible and the Malian government has banned further participation of its soldiers in the programme. The Czech Republic may look for other partners – talks are currently underway with Mauritania, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan and Ethiopia. Operations in Mali are now led by the Wagner Group, a private military company with links to the Kremlin.

The UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has  withdrawn its troops from the Rumangabo military base  in the east of the country, giving way to the M23 rebels in the fighting. UN troops are supporting Congolese forces against militants who launched a new offensive on 20 October this year and captured more areas in North Kivu province, including the town of Kiwanja. Goma, the capital of North Kivu, has been cut off from the upper part of the province. According to the UN, more than 90,000 people have left their homes since the resumption of fighting.

Kenya will send troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo to support it in the fight against the M23 rebels. The 900 Kenyan soldiers will  serve as part of a regional force that includes soldiers from Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan. The combined force will come under Kenyan command. Founded in 2012, the M23 is a predominantly  Congolese rebel group led by Tutsis, who are expected to receive support from neighbouring Rwanda.