The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has commenced the phased withdrawal of its regional peacekeeping forces from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following the conclusion of their mission mandate.
According to a statement released on Thursday, the pullout is being carried out overland, with troops transiting through Rwanda en route to their respective troop-contributing countries.
“The withdrawal follows a directive issued by the Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, held on March 13, which formally announced the termination of the SAMIDRC’s mandate and approved a phased drawdown of the mission.
“It is also consistent with the outcomes of a high-level engagement in Goma on March 28 between the military chiefs the SAMIDRC troop-contributing countries and the leadership of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group,” the statement said.
The pull-out follows a directive issued during the SADC Heads of State and Government Summit held on 13 March 2025, which formally brought the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) to an end.
Troops from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania, who were initially deployed in December 2023 to support the Congolese armed forces in countering rebel groups in the region, are now returning to their respective countries. The withdrawal operation includes coordinated overland movement through Rwanda to designated points in Tanzania, from where the troops will be repatriated.
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The peacekeeping mission, which operated in the conflict-ridden provinces of eastern DRC, faced numerous challenges during its deployment. Intense clashes with M23 rebels resulted in casualties among the forces, highlighting the volatility and complexity of the security situation in the region.
While the withdrawal signals the end of SADC’s direct military involvement, regional leaders and international partners continue to call for sustained dialogue and a political solution to the protracted crisis in eastern DRC.
The SADC mission was part of broader efforts to stabilise the region and assist the Congolese government in restoring peace and state authority in territories plagued by armed groups.
The SADC is a regional economic community comprising 16 member states: Angola, Botswana, the Comoros, the DRC, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
