The SADC mission, which suffered a loss this year, will carry out a “phased withdrawal” of the military.
Regional blocs in southern Africa say they have decided to “phasedly withdraw” the deployment of troops in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Leaders of the 16-country South African Development Community (SADC), which has lost at least 12 soldiers in the Eastern DRC since January, held a virtual summit on Thursday to discuss the ongoing conflict in the region that saw 30 years of unrest.
The meeting comes the day after Angola announced that peace negotiations between the DRC and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group will begin next week.
In a communicado announced after the summit, the group said that DC’s mission at the DRC (also known as SAMIDRC) “will end… direct the commencement of the gradual withdrawal of SAMIDRC forces.”
M23 seized the mineral-rich and volatile eastern DRC strip, including major cities in Goma and Bukavu, in its first lightning advance since January.
The Congolese government says at least 7,000 people have died since.
Officials did not comment on the scale of the military deployment, but it is estimated that the majority of the SamidRC forces come from South Africa and have sent at least 1,000 soldiers.
South Africa lost 14 soldiers in the Eastern DRC conflict in January. Most were part of the SADC mission, but at least two were deployed as part of another UN peacekeeping mission. Elsewhere, three Malawian troops in the SADC deployment were also killed.
The mission was sent to the Eastern DRC in December 2023 to help the government restore peace and security amid attacks by armed groups including the M23.
“Timely” meeting
Holding Thursday’s summit, SADC Chairman and Zimbabwean President Emerson Mnangagwa sought a “sense of urgency” to end the battle.
A comprehensive dialogue is essential, he said, adding that the review of the DRC’s mandate is “timely.”
Angola’s presidential office announced on Wednesday that direct consultations between the DRC and M23 will begin next week.
“According to the measures taken by Angola mediation, the delegations from the DRC and M23 will begin direct peace negotiations in Luanda city on March 18th,” he said.
Angola President Joao Lurenko has previously met President Congo Tosisekedi, who had previously refused to have a dialogue with the M23, as Rwanda had requested. Kinshasa previously said he would talk to Kigali, which he accused of supporting the M23.
On Thursday, two Congolese government sources told Reuters that the latest Angola proposal is being seriously considered.
“This is a process that’s beginning. Kinshasa hopes it will be shorter, but it can be long and it will be up to the head of state to decide who will represent the government,” one source said anonymously.
“If we make direct contact with the M23, this does not rule out Kigali’s liability,” another source said anonymously.
The announcement of the withdrawal of the SADC deployment, which had helped the DRC fight rebel groups, could be even more blowing for Tshisekedi, who is facing criticism of the M23’s latest advancement handling.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Ndungaia told Reuters on Thursday that the withdrawal was a “good decision to contribute to peace” for the Eastern DRC.
UN experts say Rwanda is supporting the M23 and supporting the group to maintain a force of around 3,000 to 4,000 people in the Eastern DRC. Rwanda denies providing military aid to rebels.
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