The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has formed a technical team to speed up the withdrawal of its troops from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to General Rudzani Maphwanya, Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). This decision came after a meeting of defense chiefs from South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi held in Dar es Salaam on April 11, 2025.
In an interview with SABC News, Gen. Maphwanya stated, “A meeting of defense chiefs was held on Friday in Dar es Salaam, where it was agreed to establish a technical team. That team is currently operating from Tanzania and is finalizing the details for the troop withdrawal.” He emphasized the urgency of the matter, adding, “While I can’t give a precise date, we’ve instructed the team to move quickly so our troops can return home as soon as possible.”
The SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) was launched in December 2023 to fight armed groups such as the M23 rebels. However, the mission suffered serious setbacks, including the deaths of 14 South African soldiers in January 2025. As a result, SADC leaders decided on March 13 to end the mission and begin a phased withdrawal of forces from South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi.
The withdrawal process has faced significant challenges, especially concerning the reopening of Goma International Airport, a key exit route. SADC had planned to use the airport, but tensions with the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC)/M23, which controls the area, complicated matters.
A deal signed on March 28, 2025, at Goma’s Serena Hotel between SADC and AFC/M23 aimed to restore the airport to enable the troop withdrawal. The agreement, attended by Gen. Maphwanya and M23 military chief Major General Sultani Makenga, outlined that SADC would assist in repairing the airport while AFC/M23 would guarantee safe passage.
However, Gen. Maphwanya said the agreement broke down because the DRC government was not involved in the talks. “It became evident that we couldn’t proceed with the airport repairs without the participation of the DRC government,” he said. The DRC later banned the airport’s use, citing security risks tied to M23 and alleged Rwandan military presence, causing further delays.
As a workaround, SADC has arranged with Rwanda to allow its troops to exit by road through Rwandan territory. Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, confirmed receiving SADC’s request for safe passage, though no timeline has been finalized.
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