Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered the Chief of Defense Forces, General Paul Valentino Phiri, to commence preparations for the repatriation of Malawian troops deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under the SAMIDRC mission.
The Malawian forces were dispatched to assist the Congolese national army, FARDC, in its efforts to counter the M23 rebel group, which has destabilized parts of eastern DRC.
According to reports, this decision aims to pave the way for dialogue between conflicting parties in the region. The move follows significant setbacks suffered by the forces supporting the DRC government, including South African troops, the FDLR militia, and other armed groups, who were defeated by M23, which even captured the strategic city of Goma.
Speaking to RBA, regional political analyst Me Gasominari Jean Baptiste praised the decision as a positive step toward peace. “After their defeat by M23, it became necessary for them to leave. This is a commendable decision by President Chakwera. We hope other nations with troops in the region will follow suit to build trust and facilitate peace negotiations,” he stated.
Malawi’s announcement coincides with a similar call from South Africa, where members of the Parliamentary Security Committee urged their government to withdraw troops from eastern DRC. South African forces are also part of the SAMIDRC mission, operating alongside FARDC and FDLR.
During a parliamentary session, South Africa’s Minister of Defense, Angie Motshekga, faced intense questioning over the country’s military involvement in DRC. Carl Gerhardus Niehaus, a member of the parliamentary security committee, accused the government of misleading lawmakers about the true nature of the mission.
“This is not a peacekeeping mission but rather a combat operation,” Niehaus asserted, questioning the justification for South Africa’s military expenditures in the DRC.
Committee members expressed concern over the financial burden of the mission and the controversial cooperation between South African troops and the FDLR, a militia known for its involvement in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide against Tutsi.
As pressure mounts on regional governments, the withdrawal of Malawian forces may set a precedent for other nations to reassess their involvement in the complex conflict in eastern DRC, raising hopes for renewed efforts toward sustainable peace.
