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Kenya-Led East African Forces Vow to Protect DR Congo's Goma

The East African Community's armed force, led by Kenya, has vowed to protect the city of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as M23 rebels advance toward the city, which is home to one million people. The Kenyan commander of the force, Jeff Nyagah, said the city will be safe.

 M23 fighters are reported to have advanced to within 20 kilometers of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, after the DR Congo forces abandoned their defensive positions.

East African countries agreed in April to send troops to the DR Congo to help stabilise the country's eastern region, which has seen decades of conflict sparked by the presence of foreign rebel groups and fighting among local groups over control of the area's mines, which produce  gold, diamonds, tin and other valuable resources.

This week, former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta visited the eastern DR Congo. He called for increased humanitarian aid and for warring parties to engage in peace talks to find a solution to the conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions.

InFocus

Moses Sawasawa/MSF

A road between Goma and Rutshuru. in DR Congo.

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