Kelvin Jakachira
The Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) held on Thursday has terminated the mandate of the regional bloc’s military mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo and directed the commencement of a phased withdrawal of its troops.
The Summit chaired by Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnanagagwa reiterated the need for a political and diplomatic solution with all parties including state, non-state parties, military and non-military in the eastern DRC for the restoration of peace, security and tranquility in the country.
The decision to withdraw the troops was made after the Summit received the latest updates on the security situation in the eastern part of the DRC and considered the report on the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) mandate from the Extraordinary SADC Organ Troika Summit which was held on 6 March 2025.
The SADC troops are currently surrounded by the M23 rebels in Goma after a failed effort to defend the North Kivu provincial capital in January.
The M23 seized Goma which was being defended by the SADC troops together with the Congolese army, European mercenaries, several militia groups including the genocidal FDLR, formed by perpetrators of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
The M23 has also captured Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu.
In its March 6 meeting the Troika resolved to withdraw the SADC troops saying their position was unattainable.
The troops from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi are currently confined to their bases under the watch of the M23 rebels who are controlling their movements.
In addition, to withdrawing its troops, the Summit held on Thursday further reiterated the decision from the joint Summit of the East Africa Community (EAC) and SADC to merge the Luanda and Nairobi Process and inclusion of more facilitators to enhance the peace-building process.
According to a communique released after the virtual meeting, the Summit emphasised its dedication to addressing the ongoing conflict in the DRC and reaffirmed its commitment to support interventions aimed at bringing lasting peace and security in the eastern DRC, in line with the SADC Mutual Defence Pact of 2003.
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The leaders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to continue supporting the DRC in its pursuit of safeguarding its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as sustainable peace, security and development.
The SADC leaders who participated in the virtual summit are Botswana: President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, Democratic Republic of Congo: H.E. President Mr. Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, Madagascar’s Andry Rajoelina, Mozambique leader Daniel Francisco Chapo, the President of Namibia Dr. Nangolo Mbumba, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan, Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema, the Prime Minister of Lesotho Samuel Matekane, Eswatini’s Prime Minister Russel Dlamini, Malawi’s foreign affairs minister Nancy Gladys Tembo, foreign affairs minister of Mauritius Dhananjay Ramful, Angola’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and International Trade, Manuel Homem, and Seychelles’ Minister of Home Affairs Claude Morel.
