The conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is likely to shift to the East African Legislative Assembly this week with the regional parliament taking Tanzania to task over its support for a new UN-sanctioned peacekeeping force following a recent breakdown in talks between the M23 rebels and the Kinshasa government.

Tanzania chairs the Southern African Development Community Peace and Security Council, but analysts argue that leaning towards SADC given Dar’s conflicting obligations to the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and the East African Community, leaves it on a collision course with Uganda and Rwanda, which are opposed to troop deployment under the UN.

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Uganda EALA representative Fred Mukasa Mbidde is to table a motion calling Tanzania to order over its support for a position contrary to that of EAC.

“We want to urge Tanzania to withdraw from the SADC war resolution. Our position is that military confrontation can only escalate war. Our position is based on three facts: One, that Uganda and Rwanda may be drawn into an unnecessary war. Two, that Uganda and Rwanda, and sometimes Tanzania, always suffer the humanitarian burden. Thirdly, war can only lead to further proliferation of arms in the region,” he said.

The motion at the EALA meeting on April 16 will also propose that SADC and the UN Security Council resolutions for an “offensive international peacekeeping force” against the M23 rebels be kept in abeyance to give dialogue a chance.

But the development comes as Tanzania prepares to seek parliamentary approval for its troops’ participation in the mission when the government tables, on May 3, the Ministry of Defence and National Service budgets, which the National Security Council has already endorsed.

Tanzania, also engaged in other UN peace missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Sudan, has committed itself to deploying 850 troops in the DRC, part of a UN Security Council sanctioned 2,000-man “Intervention Brigade” approved a week ago. South Africa, another key SADC member with economic interests in the DRC, has also agreed to contribute troops.

The rebels and the Kinshasa government have been in talks aimed at ending fighting that has claimed many lives and displaced thousands since late last year when a section of rebels that had joined government after a brokered deal opted out and resumed fighting, citing marginalisation.

A UN probe accused Rwanda and Uganda of supporting the M23 but Uganda was later absolved. Kampala, in spite of the accusations, brokered the dialogue between the belligerents until the talks broke down two months ago following a violent split in the M23 leadership.

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Uganda’s Defence Minister Dr Crispus Kiyonga continues with efforts to bring the belligerents back to the table.

But Permanent Secretary in Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Ministry James Mugume dismissed talk of a rift between Uganda and Tanzania.

“It’s entirely untrue. We are hosting the SADC and EAC Joint Chiefs of Staff… We are doing stick and carrot. We are supporting dialogue but if dialogue fails, then we resort to other means,” he said.

Analysts, however, argue that Kampala’s position may be informed by the desire to appear neutral, following earlier alleged support for the M23.

Mr Mbidde says as a regional assembly, EALA has taken a position for dialogue and Tanzania’s position for troop deployment is against this.

“My position is not that of the government of Uganda. The EAC adopted a Peace and Security Protocol, meaning that on matters of security we must act together as a region. If EALA took a position for dialogue, that is the position of the EAC. Tanzania or Uganda are not allowed to advance their individual positions once EALA has taken a stand,” he explained.

UN Security Council Resolution No 2098 (2013) adopted on March 28 “strongly condemns the continued presence of the M23 in the immediate vicinity of Goma and its attempts to establish an illegitimate parallel administration in North Kivu.”

But Mr Mbidde said the UN resolution was couched in a partisan way, condemning the M23 without a hearing.

Reported by Emmanuel Mulondo, Joseph Mwamunyange and Mike Mande