SADC troops begin withdrawal from eastern DR Congo

GOMA, DR Congo, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has officially commenced the phased withdrawal of its military mission in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), known as SAMIDRC, as of April 29, according to a statement released on Thursday.

The pullout is being carried out overland, with troops transiting through Rwanda en route to their respective troop-contributing countries, the statement said.

The withdrawal follows a directive issued by the Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, held on March 13, which formally announced the termination of the SAMIDRC's mandate and approved a phased drawdown of the mission.

It is also consistent with the outcomes of a high-level engagement in Goma on March 28 between the military chiefs the SAMIDRC troop-contributing countries and the leadership of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group, the statement said.

The SADC is a regional economic community comprising 16 member states: Angola, Botswana, the Comoros, the DRC, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Deployed in December 2023, the SAMIDRC comprises military personnel from Malawi, South Africa, and Tanzania, who have been supporting the DRC military in combating armed groups in the eastern region.

The mission, however, suffered casualties, raising concerns about its ability to achieve its objectives amid escalating violence.

The SADC has reiterated its commitment to promoting peace and security across the region and affirmed its continued support for diplomatic and political efforts aimed at achieving a durable resolution to the conflict in the eastern DRC.

The region has been mired in decades of conflict, particularly offensives by the M23. Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, the humanitarian situation there remains dire.

According to the UN refugee agency, more than 100,000 DRC refugees fled to neighboring countries in the first three months this year.

Within the DRC, overcrowded camps and host communities are struggling to absorb the displaced, amid looming threats of mpox, cholera, and measles outbreaks. Enditem