On 29 March, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) officially became the seventh member of the East African Community (EAC), a move celebrated for its trade and infrastructure potential. However, the accession comes against a backdrop of persistent insecurity in eastern DRC, where unresolved rebel activity and regional rivalries threaten stability. President Felix Tshisekedi has sought regional cooperation to combat insurgent groups, but the involvement of neighbouring states also risks heightening tensions. Particularly concerning is the growing presence of the Islamic State in Central African Province (ISCAP), an offshoot of Uganda’s Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which has recruited fighters from Tanzania, Kenya, and beyond. Since 2019, ISCAP has intensified attacks in North Kivu and Ituri, deploying improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and forging tactical links with Al-Shabaab and IS-Somalia. Recent IED incidents in Uganda and Rwanda underscore the group’s regional threat potential.