The Ugandan army said Thursday it had taken control of the Democratic Republic of Congo towns of Kasenyi and Tchomia to “prevent inter-ethnic fighting.”

While Rwanda backs the M23 armed group that has taken huge swathes of the mineral-rich eastern DRC in recent months, neighbouring Uganda has played a more complex role.

Uganda has worked alongside the DRC government to fight Islamist insurgents in the region.

But analysts say it is also keen to secure economic advantages, including control of Congolese gold mines and wider trade.

Chris Magezi, spokesman for the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), posted a video on X saying it showed “UPDF troops being welcomed in Kasenyi, DRC, today.”

“We occupied it and Tchomia today to prevent inter-ethnic fighting and to protect the population,”

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