Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi gives his annual State of the Nation address during a joint session of parliament in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, December 13, 2021
President Felix Tshisekedi of Democratic Republic of Congo said on Monday that presence of Ugandan troops in DRC fighting the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group was for a limited period only.
Earlier this month Uganda and DRC launched a joint operation against the ISIL-allied ADF armed group but have given few details about its scope or expected duration.
“I will ensure that the presence of Ugandan troops on our soil is limited to the time strictly necessary for this operation,” Tshisekedi said in a state of the union speech that also covered the COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s economic affairs.
Uganda’s intervention has provoked unease because of its army’s conduct during DRC’s 1998-2003 civil war, when Uganda was accused of occupying territory and plundering resources.
On the economy, Tshisekedi said he had asked his government for additional reforms to boost revenue collection. Reforms have helped improve DRC’s economic outlook, with growth expected to reach 6.4 percent in 2022, the IMF said last week.
“Despite this progress, too many in Congo are still struggling to make ends meet,” Tshisekedi told parliament, listing shortcomings in infrastructure and basic services, to jeers from opposition politicians.
Tshisekedi’s main rival, Martin Fayulu, had called for a sit-in at the electoral commission on Monday to demand the resignation of the organisation’s head, who is seen as close to the president.
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