Harare – The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has decided to withdraw its troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), signalling a major shift in regional intervention efforts.

The decision was made on Thursday during a virtual Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government, convened to discuss the escalating security crisis in the DRC. 

The meeting was chaired by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the current SADC chair.

Following the summit, the SADC Secretariat issued a communiqué announcing a phased withdrawal of troops deployed under the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC). Part of the communiqué reads:

“Summit terminated the mandate of SAMIDRC and directed the commencement of a phased withdrawal of SAMIDRC troops from the DRC.”

The SAMIDRC mission, launched in December 2023, was a regional peacekeeping effort aimed at assisting the Congolese government in restoring stability, particularly in the eastern DRC, where armed groups have fueled ongoing violence. 

Troops from South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi were deployed to support the Congolese Army in neutralizing militant factions and securing the region.

Despite these efforts, the security situation in the DRC remains volatile, with the M23 armed group—allegedly backed by Rwanda—gaining ground. The conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians, forcing them to flee their homes in search of safety.

The M23 now controls vast territories in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, including key cities like Goma and Bukavu, where it has reportedly established a parallel administration.

SADC’s decision to withdraw troops raises concerns about the future of peace efforts in the DRC, leaving President Félix Tshisekedi politically exposed ahead of a contentious election season.

Meanwhile, Mnangagwa’s role in overseeing the withdrawal signals a recalibration of regional diplomacy, with Zimbabwe seemingly shifting its stance on the DRC conflict.