General Rudzani Maphwanya, the Chief of South Africa’s National Defence Force, announced in Pretoria that South African troops deployed as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will complete their withdrawal by the end of May.
Maphwanya confirmed that 13 trucks carrying 57 soldiers had already departed as part of the phased withdrawal process. The decision follows a truce between the Congolese army and the M23 rebels, aligning with SADC’s broader goal of stabilising the conflict-ridden region.
Troops from South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi began their withdrawal last week, passing through Rwanda before continuing on to Tanzania and eventually returning home by air.
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The peacekeeping mission endured significant losses earlier this year, with 14 South African and three Malawian soldiers killed in clashes with M23 forces in January.
In March, SADC leaders voted to end the peacekeeping operation ahead of schedule and repatriate the troops.
United Nations experts report that M23 rebels, bolstered by an estimated 4,000 Rwandan soldiers, currently control Goma and another major city in eastern Congo. In response, Congo and Rwanda—backed by the United States and mediated by Qatar—have engaged in peace talks in an effort to reach an agreement.
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