The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has decided to end its military deployment in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following heavy casualties sustained in the conflict-ridden eastern region. The decision was made on Thursday during a virtual summit where regional leaders assessed the ongoing unrest that has plagued the area for decades.
SADC says a summit of regional heads of state has terminated the mandate of its troop deployment in the DRC. The soldiers will be withdrawn in phases. Defence analyst Dean Wingrin says the decision doesn’t come as a surprise and it is the right one. #Newzroom405
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The 16-nation bloc announced that the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) will begin a phased withdrawal, marking the end of its intervention, which started in December 2023.
“Summit terminated the mandate of SAMIDRC and directed the commencement of a phased withdrawal of SAMIDRC troops from the DRC,” the SADC statement confirmed.
SAMIDRC, which consists of troops from Malawi, Tanzania, and South Africa, was deployed to support the Congolese government in restoring stability in the mineral-rich but volatile region.
The mission has been costly. South Africa lost 14 soldiers in January, including two peacekeepers from a separate UN mission. Malawi reported three casualties, while Tanzania confirmed two troop deaths.
Though official numbers have not been disclosed, South Africa is estimated to have deployed at least 1,000 soldiers. With ongoing M23 rebel advances, reports suggest many troops have been confined to their bases, further fueling calls for their withdrawal. Malawi had already ordered its troops to prepare for departure in February.
Since January, the M23 rebels, who are allegedly backed by Rwanda, have captured large parts of eastern DRC, including the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu.
The DRC claims that over 7,000 people have been killed in the recent surge of violence. However, this figure has not been independently verified.
The decision to withdraw comes as Angola prepares to host peace talks between the DRC government and M23 leaders. The negotiations, set to begin on March 18 in Luanda, signal a renewed diplomatic push to resolve the crisis.
The SADC summit endorsed political and diplomatic solutions, urging international support to address the region’s humanitarian crisis.
“SADC remains committed to addressing the ongoing conflict in the DRC and supporting interventions aimed at bringing lasting peace,” the statement emphasized.
However, past peace initiatives have struggled to produce lasting stability in the resource-rich eastern DRC.
The DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, with a UN report estimating that 4,000 Rwandan troops are present in the conflict zone. Rwanda denies these allegations, arguing that it faces threats from ethnic Hutu militias operating in the DRC.
With regional troops withdrawing and peace talks looming, the future of eastern DRC remains uncertain, as violence and displacement continue to devastate civilian populations.
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Sourced:African Insider