In a significant development in the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, African leaders declared on Thursday that thousands of troops from South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi will be withdrawn. These forces, initially deployed to combat insurgencies in the mineral-rich region, have encountered substantial opposition, especially following the deaths of several peacekeepers at the hands of M23 rebels.
The troops were deployed under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) initiative, but public sentiment has shifted since January when 14 South African and three Malawian peacekeepers lost their lives in the conflict. The decision to begin a “phased withdrawal” was disclosed after a virtual meeting involving the 16-member bloc, including Congo. This announcement precedes peace talks between the Congolese government and M23 rebels, scheduled to take place in Angola next week.
Though a specific timeline for the troop withdrawal hasn’t been outlined, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola stressed the importance of all uninvited forces exiting the region and participating in ceasefire negotiations. During discussions in Cape Town with European Union leaders, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated the decision, citing progress in the ceasefire efforts, fostering hope in the peace talks mediated by Angola’s President João Lourenço.
Ramaphosa also highlighted the need for humanitarian and political support to uphold the ceasefire in eastern Congo. The SADC mission joins numerous other forces operating in this tumultuous region, involving Congolese forces, foreign mercenaries, United Nations peacekeepers, and over 100 groups vying for control of land and resources. This landscape has seen accusations of mass killings and ethnic violence.
The M23 rebel group, allegedly backed by around 4,000 Rwandan troops, has been a dominant force, even threatening to advance to Congo’s capital, Kinshasa. These claims have been consistently denied by Rwanda, which faces accusations from both the Congolese government and the United Nations over its alleged support for M23. This unstable region is now one of the globe’s largest humanitarian crises, with over 7 million people displaced.
The decision to withdraw SADC troops follows recent significant gains by M23 rebels, who have taken control of Goma, a principal city, and have seized Bukavu in the last two months. The January clashes resulted in fourteen South African casualties, with several others evacuated due to critical injuries.
Initially deployed in December 2023, SADC forces had their mission extended for another year during a meeting in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, last November. Zimbabwean President and SADC chairman Emmerson Mnangagwa called for ongoing support to ensure the safe withdrawal of troops, emphasizing that “dialogue is a key cog to usher lasting peace” in Congo.
The United Nations Human Rights Council has launched a commission to investigate alleged atrocities, including sexual violence and killings by both sides in the conflict.
