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
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.
Qatari PM: We must not surrender to the arrogance of extremists and pursue our quest for a 'two-state solution'

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

ISIS-backed AFD kill at least 21 in church bombing in eastern Congo

Rwanda exits Central African bloc over Congo dispute

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

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Elon Musk attends a news conference with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

Elon Musk calls for dissolving UK parliament at London far-right rally

Israeli media: US betrayed Qatar, gave green light for attack on Hamas
Politics

Israeli media: US betrayed Qatar, gave green light for attack on Hamas

Leaked memo shows Trump eyeing Louisiana National Guard plan
Politics

Leaked memo shows Trump eyeing Louisiana National Guard plan

Mamdani vows to arrest Netanyahu if elected New York mayor
Politics

Mamdani vows to arrest Netanyahu if elected New York mayor

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