SADC leaders to convene over M23 rebel offensive
M23 rebels walk at the Grande Barrier border amid clashes with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), at the border crossing point at Gisenyi, in Rubavu district, Rwanda, January 29, 2025. PHOTO/REUTERS
What you need to know:
- Mr Ramaphosa said the deployment of Sadc forces in DRC isn’t a declaration of war against any state but to protect the lives of the people.
The heads of state of the Southern Africa Development Cooperation (Sadc) are expected to meet today in Harare, Zimbabwe, as M23 rebels advance to another major city, Bukavu, south of Goma City.
The rebels, who captured Goma City, the biggest city in eastern DRC on Monday, have encircled Sadc troops that were fighting alongside Congolese government forces.
Three Sadc members: Tanzania, South Africa and Malawi, contributed troops to the Sadc Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), which is also funded by the United Nations, to disarm rebels in eastern DRC and also defend the country’s territorial integrity.
The meeting followed a meeting by Sadc troops-contributing countries, which was chaired by Tanzania President Samia Suluhu and discussed the same issue on January 28.
Tanzania and DRC are members of both the East African Community (EAC) and Sadc.
South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday accused the M23 and Rwanda forces of killing peacekeepers, including 13 South African soldiers.
“The fighting is the result of an escalation by the rebel group M23 and Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) militia engaging the armed forces of the DRC (FARDC) and attacking peacekeepers from the Sadc Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC),” Mr Ramaphosa said in a statement.
On Tuesday, Mr Ramaphosa talked to Rwanda President Paul Kagame about the fighting in eastern DRC, where they urged a ceasefire.
Mr Ramaphosa said Tanzania and Malawi also lost soldiers during the fighting with M23 rebels.
Tanzania, which is a neighbour with Rwanda and a member of the EAC, hasn’t yet made any statement about the fighting in eastern DRC or loss of its soldiers.
Mr Ramaphosa said the deployment of Sadc forces in DRC isn’t a declaration of war against any state but to protect the lives of the people.
“We welcome the position that was recently adopted by the United Nations Security Council during its special sitting on the situation in the DRC, which calls for an immediate end to hostilities, the reversal of territorial expansion by the M23, the exit of external forces from the DRC and the resumption of peace talks under the Nairobi process. The territorial integrity of the DRC must be respected in accordance with the United Nations Charter on the respect of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of other states,” he said.
He said their troops in Goma and Sake, eastern DRC, are in a tense and unpredictable situation, but he is working with his defence officials to ensure they are well equipped.
“The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Angie Motshekga, and the Chief of the SANDF, Gen Rudzani Maphwanya, and SAMIDRC Force Commander, Maj Gen Monwabisi Dyakopu, are working to ensure the SAMIDRC forces remain well equipped and sufficiently supported during this critical mission,” he said.
He asked South Africans to rally behind their troops in DRC.
This isn’t the first time SADC forces have lost soldiers in eastern DRC due to fighting with M23 rebels. M23 rebels have been targeting them for defending Congolese government troops.
