Malawi has ordered its military to prepare for withdrawal from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group recently launched a new offensive. The troops were part of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission deployed in 2023 to assist the Congolese government in addressing unrest in the mineral-rich eastern region.
The President’s office stated that President Lazarus Chakwera has directed the Malawian Defence Force commander to begin preparations for the withdrawal to honor the ceasefire declaration and to facilitate negotiations aimed at achieving lasting peace. It is unclear when the withdrawal will begin.
The SADC mission, which includes around 1,300 troops, is largely led by South Africa, with contributions from Tanzania as well. On Tuesday, M23 declared a unilateral humanitarian “ceasefire” just days after seizing the strategic city of Goma in North Kivu. However, intense clashes erupted on Wednesday morning between M23 fighters, their Rwandan allies, and Congolese forces.
M23 and Rwandan troops captured the mining town of Nyabibwe, located about 100 kilometers from Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, and 70 kilometers from the provincial airport. Leaders from the 16-nation SADC and the eight-member East Africa Community are scheduled to meet on Saturday in a bid to negotiate peace between the warring parties in the DRC.
Both DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame are expected to attend the summit in Tanzania after missing previous talks. The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold an emergency session on the DRC conflict on Friday.
The ongoing violence has claimed at least 900 lives and left 2,880 others injured in the Goma clashes, according to the UN’s humanitarian agency. International observers have warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in the region.
