Leaders of the Southern African regional bloc have decided on a phased withdrawal of troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following a surge in fighting with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels that left more than a dozen SA soldiers dead.
The Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) also decided to terminate the mission, which began in December 2023 and directed the commencement of a phased withdrawal of the Sadc Mission in DRC (SamiDRC) troops, it said on Thursday.
It noted “with grave concern the continued deterioration of the security situation in Eastern DRC, including the capture of Goma and Bukavu and the blockage of the main supply routes, making it difficult for humanitarian aid to flow”.
“The summit called for the protection and free movement of civilians seeking safety and for all parties to uphold international humanitarian principles, stop attacks on civilians’ infrastructure and guarantee unhindered humanitarian access.”
The leaders recognised that a military solution alone could not resolve the complex conflicts in the eastern DRC. Instead, they advocated for inclusive dialogue and negotiations, bringing together all parties, including the nonstate actors.
Hundreds of SamiDRC troops, including South Africans, are being held by M23 rebels in DRC. Now that the SamiDRC mission has ended, efforts to rescue them will move forward. SA has about 1,000 additional troops in the DRC as part of a UN mission.
Following the deaths of 14 SA soldiers in the region in January, there was increased pressure on the government to withdraw troops. Malawian and Tanzanian soldiers also died while serving under SamiDRC.
“The summit expressed its deepest condolences to DRC, the Republics of SA and Malawi, and the United Republic of Tanzania, and to the families of the deceased soldiers who lost their lives while serving under the SamiDRC, and wished those wounded a speedy recovery,” Sadc said in a statement.
For 2025/26, the Treasury allocated R5bn for the mission and to “supplement existing peacekeeping activities”.
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