The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has begun a gradual withdrawal of its forces from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This move follows a recent summit where regional leaders agreed to end the mandate of the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC).
Initially deployed in December 2023, SADC troops were sent to assist the Congolese military in countering armed rebel groups, particularly the M23 insurgents.
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Although the mission’s deployment was extended into late 2024, SAMIDRC encountered serious obstacles and suffered losses in 2025.
With SADC forces leaving, concerns have emerged over whether the DRC can handle the ongoing rebel insurgency alone.
The M23 group has taken control of key areas in eastern Congo, a mineral-rich zone that remains a focal point of conflict, partly tied to the lingering effects of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.
