General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, has criticized the exclusion of the East African Community (EAC) from the Doha peace process.
He also reiterated that Uganda will act decisively to protect its national interests if conflict resurfaces in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gen. Muhoozi stated that agreements aimed at resolving the DRC crisis cannot be meaningful without the involvement of regional actors.
“Not involving the region in the Doha process was a mistake. If war breaks out again in Eastern DRC, we will not hesitate for a minute to secure our country’s interests,” he wrote.
The Doha peace process, launched in April 2025, seeks to bring the DRC government and the M23 rebel group to the negotiating table.
However, the process has faced criticism, with some stakeholders arguing that excluding the EAC undermines the potential for lasting peace.
Prior to Doha, the EAC and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) had coordinated regional efforts to stabilize Eastern DRC.
Their joint framework under the African Union aimed to resolve the conflict through inclusive diplomacy and mediation.
Analysts say the exclusion of these regional actors in Doha risks weakening the peace process and reducing local ownership of the negotiations.
Uganda has long maintained a security presence in areas near its border with Eastern DRC and has played a key role in previous mediation efforts.
Gen. Muhoozi’s statement underscores Kampala’s insistence on regional coordination and its readiness to intervene if necessary to protect national security and economic interests.
Prior to the DRC-M23 meeting in Doha, the presidents of Congo and Rwanda had met in the Qatari capital as part of efforts to de-escalate tensions.
