Troops deployed under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) began their withdrawal on April 29, 2025, passing through Rwanda. Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that Rwanda is providing safe passage and escort for convoys of SAMIDRC troops and equipment withdrawing from eastern DRC through Rwanda to Tanzania. “The presence of SAMIDRC troops was always a complicating factor in the conflict, and today’s start of withdrawal marks a pos

Troops deployed under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) began their withdrawal on April 29, 2025, passing through Rwanda. Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that Rwanda is providing safe passage and escort for convoys of SAMIDRC troops and equipment withdrawing from eastern DRC through Rwanda to Tanzania. “The presence of SAMIDRC troops was always a complicating factor in the conflict, and today’s start of withdrawal marks a positive step in support of the ongoing peace process,” Minister Nduhungirehe said. SADC, a regional economic bloc comprising 16 member states, had deployed its military intervention force, SAMIDRC, in December 2023. The force consisted of South African, Tanzanian, and Malawian troops and had an offensive mandate to defeat the M23 rebel group. The force suffered a major defeat  in January 2025, when M23 captured strategic areas such as Sake and Goma city in North Kivu.

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SADC forces sustained 18 fatalities, including 14 South African soldiers, two from Malawi, and two from Tanzania, during clashes that led to the capture of Goma in January. Dozens of others were wounded, and up to 200 soldiers were repatriated through Rwanda on February 24. On March 28, the rebels and the SADC mission signed an agreement for the withdrawal of the Southern African-led forces from the DRC. The agreement allowed the SADC troops to leave eastern Congo with their weapons and equipment but required them to leave behind any weapons and equipment belonging to the Congolese army that were in their possession.

One of boats SADC troops being transported from Goma City to Tanzania through Rubavu District in Rwanda (Photos by Igihe).

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