On 13 March, during a virtual summit, leaders from the 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) announced their plan to gradually withdraw military forces from the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This includes troops from the South African National Defence Forces.
The decision to withdraw comes after Angola’s recent declaration that peace talks between the DRC and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group are scheduled to commence on 18 March in Luanda.
The SADC-led contingent was deployed two years ago to strengthen the Congolese army’s efforts against M23, which has seized control of key areas in mineral-rich eastern DRC this year.
Recent clashes have resulted in the deaths of at least 19 soldiers from South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania, particularly during M23’s assault on Goma, the region’s largest city, in January. According to Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa, the recent escalation had claimed more than 7,500 lives by the last week of February and displaced hundreds of thousands.
In his announcement regarding the troop withdrawal, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recognised the situation as ‘precarious’ but expressed optimism that a ceasefire could be reached, especially with the upcoming negotiations led by Angolan President João Lourenço and supported by various facilitators.
Political analyst Sandile Swanda has branded the situation ‘embarrassing’ for South Africa, noting that the country was ill-equipped to confront the Rwandan-backed rebels.
In February, Malawi’s president also indicated that his country’s troops would be withdrawn from the DRC, although he did not provide a specific reason for this decision.
As M23 continues to expand its territorial control, reports indicate that the group is preparing to attack Walikale, a town known for its mining resources.
Sources
https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/withdrawal-of-sandf-troops-from-drc-not-a-sign-of-defeat/