In a show of solidarity with their Congolese counterparts, over 300 soldiers from the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) were seen this morning loading their weapons onto a Kenya Air Force plane ahead of their planned departure to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The soldiers will be leaving in two batches and are expected to arrive in Goma, a city located in the eastern part of Congo, where M23 rebels are currently engaged in a fierce battle with government forces. The deployment of the SSPDF soldiers comes after a request for assistance was made by the Congolese government.
Speaking to journalists, the spokesperson for the SSPDF, Major-General Lul Ruai Koang, emphasized the need for peace in the region, stating that the deployment of the soldiers is a show of support for the government of Congo in its efforts to bring peace and stability to the area.
“We are committed to working alongside our Congolese counterparts to ensure that peace prevails in the region,” Major-General Lul Ruai Koang said.
The Kenyan Air Force plane carrying the SSPDF soldiers is expected to make a stopover in Uganda before proceeding to Goma. The deployment of the soldiers is expected to boost the morale of government forces in their fight against the M23 rebels.
The M23 rebels have been fighting against government forces in the eastern part of Congo for several months, causing displacement of thousands of civilians and leading to a humanitarian crisis in the region.
The arrival of the SSPDF soldiers is expected to provide much-needed support for the government forces, and the hope is that their presence will help to bring an end to the conflict in the region.
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