South Africa will withdraw its troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s volatile east, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced, as the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) military intervention in the region faces growing scrutiny.
The decision comes as Ramaphosa prepares to attend a joint regional summit in Tanzania on Saturday, aimed at addressing the deepening crisis in DR Congo.
Sophie Mokoena, international news editor at South Africa’s state broadcaster SABC, confirmed the development on X, adding that some South African soldiers in DR Congo had reached out to their families describing dire conditions at their bases.
The withdrawal follows a similar decision by Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera, who ordered his country’s military to prepare to pull out from the regional mission.
Malawian forces are part of the SADC Mission in DR Congo (SAMIDRC), which was deployed to combat armed groups but has struggled to make headway against the advancing M23 rebels.
At least 20 peacekeepers, including 14 South Africans and three Malawians, were killed as the rebels captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, last week.
Chakwera said his decision was meant to “honour the declaration of a ceasefire by the parties,” though fighting in the region continues.
Ramaphosa, in his recent State of the Nation address, underscored South Africa’s commitment to continental peace efforts but acknowledged the challenges in DR Congo.
“For Africa to thrive, we must silence the guns on the continent. The presence of South African peacekeepers in the eastern DRC is testament to our continued commitment to the peaceful resolution of one of the world’s most intractable conflicts,” he said.
He reiterated his support for ongoing diplomatic initiatives, including the Luanda Process, aimed at securing a ceasefire.
Helmoed Heitman, a South African defense analyst, has described the SADC mission in DR Congo as a failure, arguing that the fall of Goma marked a decisive setback.
Writing in Business Day, Heitman noted that SAMIDRC forces, along with UN peacekeepers and the Congolese army, were unable to halt the M23 advance.
“Instead, the SADC force has itself been neutralised… its troops are essentially confined to their bases. That represents complete mission failure, and SADC and South Africa need to understand and accept this as the starting point in considering what to do next,” he wrote.
Dar set for Summit on DRC crisis
The unfolding crisis has prompted an unprecedented diplomatic effort, with Tanzania hosting the inaugural joint summit of SADC and the East African Community (EAC) on February 8.
Leaders from both regional blocs, including DR Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, and South African, Kenyan, and Tanzanian officials, will gather in Dar es Salaam in a bid to forge a unified response.
The summit comes at a critical moment, as the M23 rebellion has triggered a humanitarian catastrophe, displacing millions and further destabilizing the region.
The involvement of external actors and allegations of support for armed groups by neighbouring countries have complicated peace efforts.
By bringing together both SADC and EAC, the summit signals a shift toward a more coordinated African-led approach to conflict resolution.
The meeting is expected to address not just military strategies but also the broader humanitarian crisis.
Calls for an immediate ceasefire, increased humanitarian aid, and the safe return of displaced persons are high on the agenda.
While previous summits have yielded commitments that often faltered in execution, this gathering presents an opportunity for African leaders to take the lead in crafting a lasting solution.
The outcome of the Tanzania summit could mark a turning point in how Africa handles regional conflicts, setting the stage for a more unified security framework.
However, its success will be measured not just by diplomatic agreements but by the concrete actions that follow.
