The Belgian government has deployed troops to the restive eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) in what is officially described as a joint military training operation with Congolese forces.
The deployment, estimated to involve between 300 and 400 soldiers, is reportedly supported by tanks and drones, according to media reports from the region.
However, the M23 rebels have accused Belgium of not only meddling in Congolese national affairs but also seeking to engage alongside the Wazalendo militia and the FDLR—an armed group largely responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
While the Belgian presence is officially for training purposes, the Belgian commandos are expected to directly engage with the M23 rebels alongside the Congolese army coalition.
This coalition has suffered significant losses in the eastern region, despite receiving support from foreign troops, including well-paid European mercenaries.
Based at Lwama Camp in Kindu, the capital of Maniema Province, the Belgian troops will train Congolese military instructors from the 31st Brigade of the Rapid Reaction Units (URR), a force previously trained by Belgium between 2008 and 2017.
Before the deployment, Congolese media outlet Actualité deleted an article on March 14, which revealed that Belgium had received €20 million from the EU to “equip and restore” the infrastructure of the 31st URR Brigade.
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed that a Belgian Air Force Falcon aircraft departed Belgium on March 17, heading to Kinshasa.
The following day, it made a stop at Kindu Airport before returning to Kinshasa later that day. The aircraft returned to Belgium on March 20.
Belgium has consistently supported DR Congo within the EU, strongly lobbying for punitive sanctions against Rwanda.
Rwanda last week severed diplomatic ties with Belgium and expelled its envoys from Kigali over the DR Congo impasse.
More worrying for those pushing for peace is that Rwanda and DR Congo recently moved to patch their rift when Presidents Paul Kagame and Felix Tshisekedi met in Doha, Qatar.
The two leaders agreed on a ceasefire and also for the African-led mediation efforts proposed by the Sadc and EAC summits earlier in February to bear fruit.
The Luanda Peace Process officially ended on Monday, March 24, with former African presidents set to be appointed to take over the mediation.