The body of a Kenya Defence Forces soldier who was killed in a mortar attack on the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) in Kibumba, eastern DRC was Wednesday flown to Nairobi.
EACRF protested on Wednesday in a statement that a ceasefire agreement between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the M23 armed group was breached on October 24 when the attack happened.
“The hostile clashes fatally wounded a Kenyan Peacekeeper stationed at Kanyamahoro, near Kibumba, 15 kilometers North East of Goma. Consequently, investigations to establish circumstances under which this incident occurred have commenced,” a statement from EACRF said.
It called for the return to a ceasefire agreement and cessation of hostilities between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the M23 Armed Group.
“EACRF remains committed to the Protection of Civilians in line with its mandate.”
The body of a private was loaded onto a military plane and flown to Nairobi on Wednesday.
It is the first such death to be reported on the Kenyan troops since they joined the EACRF last year.
There are more than 1,000 KDF personnel in the mission.
The soldier was among troops under the EACRF when a mortar directed at a fighting group landed on them on Tuesday, October 24.
Officials on the ground said there was no direct attack on KDF Forward Operating Base adding the M23 was fighting with Wazalendo rebels using mortars when the incident happened.
“One accidentally landed near one of the post patrol bases. The soldier was injured from shrapnel resulting from the landing bomb. Unfortunately, he succumbed to the injuries,” an official aware of the developments said.
Fighting between the M23 rebels and the Militia Coalition under the Wazalendo (Patriots) umbrella has resumed in North Kivu province.
This is after Bertrand Bisimwa, the M23 rebels’ President accused Wazalendo and the government army of launching the attacks at M23 positions in Bwiza, Masisi territory.
A statement from the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo denounced the shooting blaming it on the the M23.
This comes as M23 rebels and DR Congo troops clash heavily in North Kivu province.
