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The East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) has blamed a breach of a ceasefire agreement for the killing of a Kenyan peacekeeper in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Kenyan soldier was killed in a mortar attack on the EACRF in Kibumba, eastern DRC on Tuesday, October 24.

In a statement on Wednesday, EACRF said the killing was a result of a violation of a truce between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the M23 Armed Group.

“On Tuesday 24 October 2023, the ceasefire agreement between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the M23 Armed Group was breached. The hostile dashes fatally wounded a Kenyan Peacekeeper stationed at Kanyamahoro, near Kibumba, 15Km North East of Goma,” the regional army group said.

EACRF also confirmed that investigations are ongoing to establish circumstances under which the incident occurred even as it called for a cessation of hostilities.

“The East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) calls for the return to ceasefire agreement and cessation of hostilities between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the M23 Armed Group,” the statement reads.

“EACRF remains committed to the Protection of Civilians in line with its mandate.”

PRESS RELEASE pic.twitter.com/Dahmo9BEaS

— EACRF DRC (@eacrf_DRC) October 25, 2023

The incident comes two weeks after Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, the facilitator of the East Africa Community (EAC)-led peace process in DRC, condemned escalation of hostilities, killings and displacements in the country.

In a statement on October 9, the former Kenyan Head of State appealed to all the armed groups to cease hostilities and give dialogue a chance.

“The facilitator appeals to all parties engaged in such acts to immediately cease their armed offensives and hostilities, so as to allow continued unhindered and sustained humanitarian access and to give a chance to a return to peace and the pursuit of a non-military solution to the crisis in the region through the EAC Led Nairobi Peace Process,” the statement dated October 9 reads in part.

Thousands of people have been displaced in the volatile eastern region of DRC as fighting between the country’s military and M23 rebels continues.

The M23 was formed in 2012 claiming to defend the interests of Congolese Tutsis, a group sharing the ethnicity of Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, against Hutu militias.