The Congolese are both optimistic and wary about the deployment of the regional East African force, set up by the Community of East African States (EAC), to oversee the withdrawal of rebels in eastern DRC.
Other diplomatic steps have been taken in parallel with the deployment of this force to bring peace to the region.
The force is now almost complete and contains Kenyan, Burundian, Ugandan, and South, Sudanese soldiers.
The force does not engage in combat and is described as “neutral” by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
According to the inhabitants, the M23 rebels have withdrawn from some localities in the territories of Rutshuru, Masisi, Bambo, Mweso, or the village of Kishishe.
These localities have all been seized by the M23 in addition to Goma. Rwanda is accused by the DRC and by UN experts of supporting this movement.
For its part, the M23 claims to be defending an endangered section of the population and is calling for negotiations, which the DRC refuses.
The EAC force is accused of passivity and complicity with the rebels, as the UN is unable to bring peace.
Faced with the concern of some Congolese, the Minister of Communication and government spokesman, Patrick Muyaya replied during his weekly briefing that the deployment of the East African force should not be seen as balkanization, but as “the implementation of the plan” of de-escalation adopted by various heads of the state concerned.