Malawi’s Troops to Begin Withdrawal from Eastern DRC

Malawi’s President, Lazarus Chakwera, who also serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Defence Force, has ordered the withdrawal of Malawian troops from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Malawian troops are part of a contingent from the Southern African regional bloc deployed in the DRC under the SAMIDRC mission to combat the M23 rebel group, which recently took control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province. "President Chakwera has directed the MDF (Malawi Defence Force) commander to begin preparations for the withdrawal of Malawian troops… to honor the ceasefire decla

Malawi’s President, Lazarus Chakwera, who also serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Defence Force, has ordered the withdrawal of Malawian troops from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Malawian troops are part of a contingent from the Southern African regional bloc deployed in the DRC under the SAMIDRC mission to combat the M23 rebel group, which recently took control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province. "President Chakwera has directed the MDF (Malawi Defence Force) commander to begin preparations for the withdrawal of Malawian troops… to honor the ceasefire declaration by the warring parties and to pave the way for planned negotiations toward lasting peace," the statement read. The M23 rebel group, operating under the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), recently announced a unilateral ceasefire starting February 4, 2025, citing humanitarian concerns amid the escalating conflict in eastern DRC. In its communiqué, M23 reiterated its call for SAMIDRC to withdraw from the DRC, arguing that the regional force’s mission is no longer justified. “We urge SAMIDRC to withdraw its forces from the DRC, as we have repeatedly stated that their mission is no longer justified,” the statement read. The withdrawal of Malawian troops comes ahead of an extraordinary joint summit of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), set to take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Leaders from Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, and the DRC will convene to discuss the worsening crisis.