Uganda has deployed more than 1,000 additional soldiers into eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the past week, escalating concerns of a wider regional conflict, diplomatic and United Nations sources revealed.

The troops have been stationed near areas where Congolese forces are engaged in intense battles against the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who recently captured the regional capital, Goma. Witnesses in the town of Butembo reported seeing columns of Ugandan soldiers moving south toward the front lines.

With this latest deployment, Uganda's troop presence in the conflict zone is estimated to be between 4,000 and 5,000, according to U.N. sources. The official reason for Uganda's presence in eastern Congo remains its ongoing operation against the Islamist Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a campaign known as Operation Shujaa, which began in 2021. However, in the highly volatile region, alliances and loyalties remain complex, with U.N. experts alleging that Uganda has previously provided support to the M23 rebels—claims Uganda denies.

Ugandan army spokesperson Felix Kulayigye downplayed the reports, stating that the military had only shifted its "posture to offensive defense" rather than initiating a major new deployment. Meanwhile, Congolese Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya reiterated that Uganda’s priority in the region was fighting the ADF, though he acknowledged the possibility of confrontations with the M23 and Rwandan troops.

The M23, an ethnic Tutsi-led rebel group, has seized much of North Kivu province and is now consolidating control over Goma while advancing toward Bukavu. While the group claims it does not intend to capture the city, its movements have intensified clashes with Congolese and Burundian forces.

Uganda and Rwanda have historically intervened in eastern Congo, often citing security concerns. However, both nations have also been accused of exploiting the region’s rich natural resources, particularly gold. Analysts suggest that Uganda’s latest troop surge may be an attempt to safeguard its economic and strategic interests in the region.

Zobel Behalal, a senior expert at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, noted that eastern Congo plays a vital role in Uganda’s economy, much like it does for Rwanda. Adding to the intrigue, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s influential military chief and son of President Yoweri Museveni, has previously voiced support for Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame. In 2022, he referred to the M23 as “brothers of ours” fighting for the rights of Congo’s Tutsi community, further raising questions about Uganda’s stance in the conflict.

As tensions escalate, fears of a broader regional war loom, with various factions vying for control in one of Africa’s most resource-rich but war-torn regions.