SADC starts pulling out troops from Eastern DRC

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has begun the withdrawal of its peacekeeping forces from the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with the operation starting on 29 April 2025.

The exit is being carried out by road through Rwanda and involves troops returning to their respective home countries — Malawi, South Africa, and Tanzania — which formed the core of the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC).

This move follows the directive issued by SADC Heads of State and Government during an Extraordinary Summit held on 13 March 2025, where it was decided to end SAMIDRC’s mandate and implement a phased pullout of deployed forces.

The decision to withdraw was reinforced during high-level talks in Goma on 28 March 2025 between the defence chiefs of the troop-contributing nations and representatives of the Alliance Fleuve Congo/Movement of 23 March (AFC/M23).

SAMIDRC forces were first deployed to the DRC on 15 December 2023 as part of efforts to stabilise the volatile eastern region, which has seen continued armed conflict.

SADC has stated it remains committed to peace and stability across the region and will continue supporting diplomatic efforts to address the crisis in eastern DRC.