The SADC has decided to withdraw its troops from DR Congo following an assessment of the ongoing conflict and the ineffectiveness of the military mission. Expert Darren Olivier has welcomed the decision as overdue and highlights the need for a coordinated exit amidst efforts to achieve a diplomatic resolution for peace.
The South African Development Community (SADC) has decided to terminate the military mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) after an Extraordinary Summit on March 13. Defence expert Darren Olivier supports this decision, stating that the troops had outlived their purpose amid ongoing conflict. Deployed in December 2023, the SADC troops aimed to assist the Congolese army against the AFC/M23 rebels but were unable to prevent the rebels’ dominance in regions such as Goma and Bukavu.
The Congolese government coalition, which includes troops from Burundi and various militia groups, struggled against the advances of the M23 rebels. SADC troops from South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi became isolated, with their movements restricted by the M23 rebels. Olivier remarked that the mission’s end was overdue, highlighting that it became clear following the rebels’ capture of Goma that the mission was no longer viable.
He acknowledged that while the decision took too long, South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi made a prudent choice by delaying an immediate exit and instead relating the SAMIDRC withdrawal to broader East Africa Community (EAC)-SADC negotiations. For a successful extraction, SADC will likely need to ensure equipment remains intact, necessitating possible repairs to the Goma Airport runway for airlift operations.
The SADC summit emphasized the necessity for a political and diplomatic resolution for peace in eastern DR Congo. The troop withdrawal decision stemmed from the latest updates on the security situation and recommendations from an earlier SADC summit, which stated that the troops’ presence was no longer tenable. The summit also reiterated the need to merge current peace processes to better facilitate effective peace-building initiatives.
The SADC has concluded that its military mission in DR Congo is no longer effective, prompting a phased withdrawal of troops after a thorough assessment of the security situation. The insights from defence experts suggest that the decision, although delayed, aligns with diplomatic negotiations aimed at achieving long-term stability in the region. The necessity for a coordinated exit underscores the commitment to maintaining equipment integrity and preparing for subsequent peace-building efforts.
Original Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
