Southern African bloc begins troop withdrawal from DR Congo

KIGALI, Rwanda

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) began Tuesday to withdraw troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo peacekeeping mission through Rwanda, according to sources.

The troops will travel by land “through Rwanda’s Rusumo border post to a designated area in Tanzania, from where they will fly to their respective countries,” anonymous sources told Anadolu following diplomatic evacuation efforts for a safe passage. The sources were not authorized to comment on the issue,

Footage on social media showed several truckloads of weapons, including tanks and soldiers, moving from Goma in North Kivu province through Rwanda.

The Rwandan government leaning New Times newspaper posted pictures on X of military vehicles and civilian trucks carrying military equipment reportedly heading from the Congo-Rwanda common border at Rubavu escorted by Rwandan soldiers.

Southern African leaders in March ended the mandate of the SADC mission in Congo, known as SAMIDRC, amid an escalation of violence in the east.

The withdrawal process, however, has faced challenges after the Goma International Airport was closed following damage during fighting between Congolese forces and M23 rebels who are at the center of the conflict in eastern Congo.

The rebel group signed an agreement with SADC on March 2 to facilitate the withdrawal of the regional bloc's soldiers along with their equipment.

Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said earlier this month that the SADC sought permission to use Rwandan territory for the departure of the troops.

The 16-member SADC approved the mission to eastern DR Congo in May 2023 with a mandate to support Congolese armed forces in combating armed groups in the east.

The force includes troops from South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania.

In January, South Africa lost 14 soldiers during clashes with M23 rebels for control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, now under the control of the rebel group.

Last week, the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23), a rebel alliance that includes the M23 rebels, agreed to work toward a truce with the Congo government during talks brokered by Qatar in Doha.

About 1 million people have been displaced by the conflict in eastern Congo since late January, according to the UN.