SADC WITHDRAWS FROM DRC AS PEACE TALKS SET TO BEGIN

Mon 17 March 2025:

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has announced the phased withdrawal of its military mission from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), marking a significant shift in the region’s approach to resolving the ongoing conflict.

The decision follows mounting casualties among SADC troops and renewed diplomatic efforts to bring peace to the war-torn region.

The SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) was deployed in December 2023 to support the Congolese government in its fight against the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. However, the mission has faced significant challenges, including heavy losses among South African and Malawian troops. South Africa alone lost 14 soldiers in January, with additional fatalities reported among Malawian and Tanzanian forces.

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The regional bloc, comprising 16 nations, convened an extraordinary summit via video conference this week, where it was decided that SAMIDRC’s mandate would be terminated, and troops would begin withdrawing in phases. The decision aligns with growing domestic pressure in South Africa, where calls for troop withdrawal have intensified amid reports that soldiers remain confined to their bases due to the M23’s military advances.

Military analyst and defenceWeb journalist Guy Martin commented on the challenges faced by the mission, stating, “Militarily, there’s very little that the SADC can offer to counter those rebels. Most parties agree that a diplomatic solution is the only way to go”.

Martin further noted that the mission was under-resourced from the outset, limiting its effectiveness. “They went in with quite a weak force to start with, and that was one of the reasons why they were not able to achieve their objectives in the DRC and why we are seeing the termination of the mission at the moment. If we were serious about defeating the M23, we would have gone in with at least double the manpower”.

Diplomatic Efforts Take Centre Stage

As SADC forces prepare to exit, diplomatic efforts are gaining momentum. The Congolese government and the M23 rebels have confirmed their participation in peace talks in Angola, a significant development given President Felix Tshisekedi’s previous reluctance to engage with the rebel group.

The talks, set to take place in Luanda, come after months of mediation efforts by Angola. The M23’s recent territorial gains, including the capture of the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu, have placed increased pressure on the Congolese government to negotiate.

M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa claimed that the rebel group had forced Tshisekedi to the negotiating table, stating: “Peace begins with dialogue. The sooner we talk, the sooner peace becomes a reality”.

Martin highlighted Tshisekedi’s shifting stance, saying: “What’s been holding up the process is that Felix Tshisekedi, President of the DRC, has been very reluctant to engage with the M23 and Rwandan backers. It’s only recently that he’s decided that he will engage in peace talks with the M23″.

The ongoing conflict in eastern DRC has created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. More than seven million people have been displaced, and at least 7 000 have died since the beginning of the year. The United Nations estimates that M23 is supported by approximately 4 000 Rwandan soldiers, exacerbating tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali.

The UN Human Rights Council has launched an investigation into alleged atrocities committed by both sides, including reports of mass killings and sexual violence.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwean President and SADC Chairperson Emmerson Mnangagwa emphasized the urgency of resolving the conflict, warning that instability in the DRC could spill over into neighboring countries. “Inclusive dialogue is essential,” Mnangagwa stated, adding that the review of the SAMIDRC mandate was “timely”.

With SADC’s military withdrawal imminent, the focus now shifts to the success of the Angola-sponsored peace talks. While diplomatic engagement offers a potential path to stability, the deep-rooted nature of the conflict and the involvement of multiple armed groups make a lasting resolution uncertain.