At least 20 peacekeepers, including 14 South Africans and three Malawians, were killed as the rebels captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, last week.
South Africa will withdraw its troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s volatile east, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced, as the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) military intervention in the region faces growing scrutiny.
The decision comes as Ramaphosa prepares to attend a joint regional summit in Tanzania on Saturday, aimed at addressing the deepening crisis in DR Congo.
Sophie Mokoena, international news editor at South Africa’s state broadcaster SABC, confirmed the development on X, adding that some South African soldiers in DR Congo had reached out to their families describing dire conditions at their bases.
The withdrawal follows a similar decision by Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera, who ordered his country’s military to prepare to pull out from the regional mission.
Malawian forces are part of the SADC Mission in DR Congo (SAMIDRC), which was deployed to combat armed groups but has struggled to make headway against the advancing M23 rebels.
At least 20 peacekeepers, including 14 South Africans and three Malawians, were killed as the rebels captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, last week.
Chakwera said his decision was meant to "honour the declaration of a ceasefire by the parties," though fighting in the region continues.
Ramaphosa, in his recent State of the Nation address, underscored South Africa’s commitment to continental peace efforts but acknowledged the challenges in DR Congo.
“For Africa to thrive, we must silence the guns on the continent. The presence of South African peacekeepers in the eastern DRC is testament to our continued commitment to the peaceful resolution of one of the world’s most intractable conflicts,” he said.