DRC president denied the floor at SADC meeting

The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, was denied the opportunity to speak during an extraordinary meeting of Heads of State of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The meeting was held via videoconference on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. According to the news outlet Actualite.cd, which cited its sources, President Tshisekedi was not granted the floor due to outstanding debts owed by the DRC to SADC. These debts reportedly stem from unpaid financial contributions that the DRC failed to provide for the Southern African Development Communi

The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, was denied the opportunity to speak during an extraordinary meeting of Heads of State of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The meeting was held via videoconference on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. According to the news outlet Actualite.cd, which cited its sources, President Tshisekedi was not granted the floor due to outstanding debts owed by the DRC to SADC. These debts reportedly stem from unpaid financial contributions that the DRC failed to provide for the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC). Countries including Tanzania, Malawi, and South Africa deployed troops to the mission to confront the AFC/M23 armed group. Other SADC member states were required to provide financial support for these forces, which were deployed to eastern Congo in December 2023 and suffered a major defeat in early 2025. Reports indicate that the Democratic Republic of the Congo never paid its required contributions. The country had reportedly been warned that failure to settle nearly USD 50 million in arrears could result in measures such as exclusion from certain SADC activities, including the denial of speaking rights during meetings. Seychelles and Comoros were also reportedly barred from speaking at the meeting, which was chaired by South Africa.