Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
CIA spokesperson says law enforcement responded to a security incident outside CIA headquarters.
Brigadier General Saree: Operation achieved its targeted successfully, forcing millions of Zionists to flee to shelters, and halted air traffic at the airport.
YAF spokesperson: We've executed a military operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport in occupied Yafa with ballistic hypersonic missile.
IOF warning forces residents to evacuate and head South in preparation for expansion of aggression.
IOF issues large-scale evacuation orders for residents of 14 areas in northern Gaza.
Israeli media say that for second time in span of hours, a ballistic missile is launched from Yemen toward "Israel".
Israeli media say large explosion heard in central "Israel".
Israeli media: Missile launch from Yemen takes place at end of Yahya Saree's announcement.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in occupied Al-Quds.
Saree: Escalation of aggression on Gaza and the massacres committed necessitate urgent action by the [Arab-Islamic] nation to fulfill its moral and religious duty.

M23, Southern Africa bloc agree on troop withdrawal from Eastern DRC

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 28 Mar 2025 22:14
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Earlier this month, the 16-member SADC bloc announced plans to end its deployment following a high-level summit that centered on the deteriorating situation on the ground.

Listen
  • x
  • FILE - M23 rebels enter the centre of east Congo's second-largest city, Bukavu, and take control of the South Kivu province administrative office, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP)
    M23 rebels enter the centre of east Congo's second-largest city, Bukavu, and take control of the South Kivu province administrative office, on Sunday, February 16, 2025. (AP)

The M23 rebel movement has reached an agreement with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to facilitate the withdrawal of regional troops from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a region plagued by escalating violence and worsening humanitarian conditions.

The deal comes after months of intense fighting between M23 forces and Congolese troops, during which SADC soldiers deployed under the SAMIDRC mission suffered heavy losses.

Earlier this month, the 16-member SADC bloc announced plans to end its deployment following a high-level summit that centered on the deteriorating situation on the ground.

M23, widely believed to be backed by Rwanda, has taken control of large swaths of North and South Kivu since its resurgence in 2021.

In January 2025, the group launched a rapid offensive, capturing the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu in a matter of weeks—dealing a serious blow to Kinshasa's efforts to retain control over the mineral-rich region.

Fragile Exit

On Friday, senior military officials from South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania met in Goma with M23's military commander, Sultani Makenga. A joint statement released afterward confirmed that M23 would "facilitate immediate withdrawal of SAMIDRC troops with their weapons and equipment" via Goma's airport. The airfield, however, is currently unusable due to damage from the fighting.

Related News

DRC, M23 agree to truce in eastern Congo, work toward ceasefire

Burundi accuses Rwanda of plotting an attack, while Rwanda urges calm

To coordinate the pullout, both sides agreed to set up a joint committee to assess the airport's condition. SADC also pledged assistance to restore its functionality.

This agreement between #ARC#ARC & SADC chiefs of defence is a official recognition by SADC governments that it isn’t a terrorist movement or organization. This is the end of the #DRC government narrative, the end of the lies and fiasco of #MONUSCO. VIVA #AFC_M23👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/gMYe5NUp5c

— Jacques Bahimanga (@bahimanga) March 28, 2025

While the size of the SAMIDRC deployment has not been officially disclosed, regional analysts estimate it included approximately 1,300 troops. The mission, launched in December 2023, was intended to support the DRC government in reclaiming territory and stabilizing the east.

Yet the effort has come at a significant cost: South Africa alone lost 14 soldiers in January—most serving under SAMIDRC, though at least two were deployed through a separate UN peacekeeping force. Additional casualties were reported among troops from Malawi and Tanzania.

Read more: UN Security Council demands Rwanda to withdraw troops from Congo

The Congolese government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of arming and supporting the M23 in a bid to exploit eastern Congo's vast mineral resources and fertile land.

Kigali denies the allegations, but a United Nations panel of experts has found evidence suggesting Rwanda maintains a force of approximately 4,000 troops in the region to assist M23 operations.

Meanwhile, the conflict has triggered a massive humanitarian crisis. Since the group's January offensive, nearly one million people have been displaced, including hundreds of thousands of children.

Aid agencies have reported numerous rights violations—ranging from sexual violence and forced recruitment of minors to extrajudicial killings.

  • DRC
  • M23 militants
  • M23 rebels
  • SADC
  • Congo
  • Southern African Development Community

Most Read

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben-Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

  • MENA
  • 18 May 2025
Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza

Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza

  • MENA
  • 17 May 2025
Rachel Accurso criticized for speaking out on Gaza children crisis

Ms. Rachel accused of antisemitism for speaking out for Gaza children

  • Politics
  • 20 May 2025
Martyrs, injuries in violent Israeli bombardment of southern Gaza

Israeli operation fails; IOF launch violent strikes on Gaza

  • Politics
  • 19 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Yemenis chant slogans during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israeli rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, May 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Operations against 'Israel' yielding tangible results: Ansar Allah

People walk between buildings, Dec. 17, 2024, on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts (AP)
Politics

Trump blocks Harvard from enrolling foreign students

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, steps out from his plane as he arrives at Muscat, Oman, Friday, April 25, 2025, a day prior to negotiations with US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff (AP)
Politics

Iran no longer benefits from reviving the 2015 nuclear deal: Araghchi

A Microsoft sign is decorated in celebration of the company's 50th anniversary at Microsoft headquarters, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Redmond, Wash (AP)
Technology

Microsoft prohibits 'Palestine' in internal messages

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS