- SADC to execute phased withdrawal of 3,000 troops after deadly rebel attacks
- M23 rebels control key cities, backed by alleged Rwandan support
- 7 million displaced in one of world's worst humanitarian crises
- Angola to host peace talks amid UN war crime investigations
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has declared a strategic retreat of peacekeeping forces from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, marking a pivotal moment in the decades-long regional conflict. This decision follows the deaths of 17 peacekeepers from South Africa and Malawi in January attacks, with dozens more critically injured. The withdrawal coincides with M23 rebels consolidating control over Goma and Bukavu, cities crucial to Congo's mineral trade routes.
Regional analysts suggest this troop movement reflects shifting security priorities, with peacekeeping costs exceeding $1 billion annually across SADC nations. The vacuum left by departing forces risks exacerbating tensions in an area producing 70% of the world's cobalt. A 2023 UN report revealed armed groups generate $1.25 billion yearly from illegal mineral exploitation, financing continued violence.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa emphasized diplomatic solutions, mirroring Angola's successful mediation in Ethiopia's Tigray conflict. However, the complexity of involving nine neighboring countries complicates resolution efforts. The upcoming Luanda negotiations face skepticism after failed 2022 agreements, though UN investigators recently verified 142 mass graves attributed to both rebels and government-aligned militias.
Humanitarian organizations warn of catastrophe as displaced populations approach 7.3 million. Doctors Without Borders reports cholera rates tripling in evacuation camps, while World Food Programme funding covers only 12% of required aid. This crisis echoes Somalia's 2017 AMISOM withdrawal, which enabled Al-Shabaab's resurgence—a cautionary tale for regional stability.
