East African Community agrees on regional force to try to end Congo unrest

FILE PHOTO: Congolese soldiers are seen outside the governor's headquarters as the new military governor arrives to take charge in Goma, North Kivu province, in the Democratic Republic of Congo May 10, 2021. REUTERS/Olivia Acland

NAIROBI (Reuters) - The seven countries of the East African Community (EAC) have agreed to set up a regional military force to try to end decades of bloodshed caused by militant activity in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya said.

Despite billions of dollars spent on one of the United Nation's largest peacekeeping forces, more than 120 rebel groups continue to operate across large swathes of east Congo almost two decades after the official end of the central African country's civil wars.