The East Africa Community Regional Force, EACRF, made up of troops contributed by the member states came into effect upon DR Congo's admission into the EAC mid last year.

With DR Congo declining to renew the mandate beyond 8th December, CDFs of all the contributing forces under EACRF, both EAC and SADC, have been instructed to meet on or before 8th December and come up with recommendations that will then be transmitted to the respective defense ministries from whom the summit will rely on for further consideration.

Whereas DR Congo may fail to extend EACRF mandate, there are still high chances of the forces remaining in DR Congo longer, President William Ruto saying earlier this year that the decision to have troops in Eastern DRC was based on the security considerations of the region.