NAIROBI, Kenya Apr 28- President William Ruto has appointed Major General Alphaxard Muthuri Kiugu, as the new East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) Commander in the Democratic Republic of Congo following the exit of Major General Jeff Nyagah.
Major Gen. Nyagah now takes a new role as the General Officer Command (GOC WESTCOM) Western.
Nyagah announced his departure from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) mission, citing increased threat to his safety.
According to Nyagah, there is a systematic plan to frustrate the efforts of the EACRF and what he describes, as a well-orchestrated negative media campaign against him and “direct written false accusations of EACRF’s complacency on the handling of the M23 group.”
Nyagah stated that his former residence was subjected to an attempt to intimidate his security by deploying foreign military contractors (mercenaries).
Nyagah claims that the individuals placed monitoring devices, flew drones and conducted physical surveillance of his residence in early January 2023, which forced him to relocate.
“I, The Force Commander of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) present my compliments to you the Honourable Secretary General of the East Africa Community (EAC) and have the pleasure to inform you of my exit from the mission area due to an aggravated threat to my safety and a systematic plan to frustrate efforts of the EACRF,” Major General Nyagah says in a letter addressed to the East African Community Secretary General.
Additionally, Nyagah alleges that the recent suspension of the EACRF Facebook Account is an indication of possible sabotage of the Regional Force efforts.
He added that the move has further been compounded by the government of DRC’s failure to pay administrative costs including Force Headquarters Offices, Staff Officers accommodation, electricity as well as salaries for civilian staff as per Article 9 (c) and (d) of the Status of Force Agreement (SOFA).
“Honourable Secretary General, it is with this in mind and further assessment that I have come to the conclusion that my security as the Force Commander is not guaranteed within the operation area,” he says.
He added that the ongoing frustration has rendered his mission untenable “hence the precautionary decision to exit the mission area.”
He expressed his gratitude to the EAC Heads of State, the Secretariat and the Chiefs of the Defence Forces/Staff for the support accorded to him during the period of his leadership as the Force Commander – EACRF.
The EACRF has yet to comment on Nyagah’s departure, and it remains to be seen how they will respond to his allegations of threats to his safety and efforts to frustrate their mission.
Kenyan forces are among the troops battling the M23 rebels in DRC.
