In a post on X on Saturday, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the head of Uganda’s defense forces, threatened to attack the town of Bunia in neighboring eastern Congo unless “all forces” there turned in their weapons within 24 hours.
Kainerugaba claimed to have the authority of President Yoweri Museveni, who is also his father. Kainerugaba has a history of making controversial posts about foreign policy. A military spokesman for Uganda stated that he was unable to comment on the situation.
Kainerugaba had claimed earlier on Saturday that members of the Bahima ethnic group were being killed, but he had not offered any proof.
“The Bahima, my people, are under attack. The situation for those who are attacking my people is extremely dangerous. “No one on this planet can murder my people and expect to escape punishment,” he declared.
He stated in a different post that “Bunia will soon be in UPDF hands,” alluding to the Uganda People’s Defense Force.
Read more: France, allies discuss possible informal Ukraine summit
Concerns that a clash between Congolese forces and M23 rebels supported by Rwanda could turn into a larger regional conflict are heightened by the threat posed by Uganda’s top military officer, who is generally seen as his father’s heir apparent.
After capturing Goma, the largest city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the end of last month, the rebels have now taken control of Bukavu, the second-largest city, according to an M23 leader on Friday.
Earlier in February, Reuters reported, citing U.N. sources, that Uganda had sent over 1,000 additional troops to eastern Congo as part of an operation to aid Congo in its fight against Islamist militants.
But according to U.N. experts, Uganda has also supported the M23, which is led by ethnic Tutsis.
Paul Kagame, the president of Rwanda, has refuted claims that Rwandan troops are fighting alongside M23, and Kainerugaba has openly backed him.
Kainerugaba called M23 “brothers of ours” in 2022 for their efforts to defend Tutsi rights in Congo.
Requests for comment on Kainerugaba’s most recent statements were not immediately answered by Congo’s Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya or an army spokesperson.
Kainerugaba frequently posts contentious things on social media, such as threatening to invade neighboring Kenya in 2022.
He declared last month that he wanted to decapitate Bobi Wine, the most well-known opposition figure in Uganda. He later expressed regret for the threat, and he occasionally claims that some posts are ironic.
