Uganda's Strategic Interests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In October, a leaked U.N. Group of Experts report accused Ugandan and Rwandan officials of supporting M23, a rebel group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and recommended to the United Nations that it sanction Kampala. Whether or not Uganda is providing aid to this particular rebel group, the country has a history of occasionally supporting rebel activity in the Congo. Security concerns are no longer as pervasive as they once were, but Kampala still has economic incentives to be involved in the region.

Uganda denied the allegations in the U.N. report and threatened to withdraw its troops from peacekeeping operations in Somalia and other African regions if the report is not amended. In a sense, Uganda is hoping to use its peacekeeper role in Somalia as leverage to reduce international pressure over its involvement in the Congo. Ultimately, it is unlikely that outside pressure will force Uganda to reassess its policy toward the Congo.