403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were
looking for doesn't exist.
African bloc terminates army task in DR Congo
(MENAFN) The Southern African regional bloc has announced a "phased withdrawal" of its troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), where they have been stationed to combat armed groups in the conflict-ridden country. This decision follows intense fighting in the eastern provinces between the Congolese army and M23 militants, who have captured key towns in their latest offensive since the beginning of the year. The violence has resulted in over 8,500 deaths, with at least 20 peacekeepers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) also losing their lives, including soldiers from Malawi, Tanzania, and South Africa.
During a virtual summit on Thursday, leaders from the 16-nation SADC expressed deep concern about the worsening security situation in DR Congo, particularly the blockage of critical humanitarian aid routes. Following the meeting, the regional body announced the termination of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) and the beginning of a phased troop withdrawal. However, they committed to continuing efforts to support lasting peace and DR Congo’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The SADC force, deployed in 2023 to replace the ineffective East African Community (EAC) mission, has around 1,300 troops, with South Africa contributing the largest contingent. DR Congo’s eastern region has been plagued by violence for decades, with armed groups like M23 fighting over power and valuable minerals. The government in Kinshasa has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels, a claim Rwanda denies.
Meanwhile, Angola announced it would mediate direct ceasefire talks between DR Congo’s government and M23 rebels on March 18, after Kinshasa had previously refused dialogue with the rebels, demanding negotiations only with Rwanda.
During a virtual summit on Thursday, leaders from the 16-nation SADC expressed deep concern about the worsening security situation in DR Congo, particularly the blockage of critical humanitarian aid routes. Following the meeting, the regional body announced the termination of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) and the beginning of a phased troop withdrawal. However, they committed to continuing efforts to support lasting peace and DR Congo’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The SADC force, deployed in 2023 to replace the ineffective East African Community (EAC) mission, has around 1,300 troops, with South Africa contributing the largest contingent. DR Congo’s eastern region has been plagued by violence for decades, with armed groups like M23 fighting over power and valuable minerals. The government in Kinshasa has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels, a claim Rwanda denies.
Meanwhile, Angola announced it would mediate direct ceasefire talks between DR Congo’s government and M23 rebels on March 18, after Kinshasa had previously refused dialogue with the rebels, demanding negotiations only with Rwanda.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Comments
No comment