Lindsay Dentlinger13 March 2025 | 12:28

SADC Summit terminates SAMIDRC mandate in DRC; phased withdrawal of troops to start

The South African Development Community Mission, known as SAMIDRC, was deployed in December 2023 to support the DRC government to restore peace and security in eastern DRC.

SADC Summit terminates SAMIDRC mandate in DRC; phased withdrawal of troops to start

FILE: A SAMIDRC (Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo) armored convoy drives through Goma, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on 19 April 2024. Picture: ALEXIS HUGUET/AFP

CAPE TOWN - The SADC Summit held in Harare, Zimbabwe on Thursday has resolved to terminate the mandate of its troops stationed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 

The South African Development Community Mission, known as SAMIDRC, was deployed in December 2023 to support the DRC government to restore peace and security in eastern DRC.

It includes almost 3,000 South African troops, 16 of whom died in January in the crossfire while fighting M23 rebels. 

A communique issued following Thursday's extraordinary summit of heads of state and government said that the summit terminated the mandate of SAMIDRC and directed the beginning of a phased withdrawal of troops from the DRC. 

The contingent includes troops from Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania who were deployed following a resolution in Namibia in 2023 to assist the DRC armed forces to fight armed groups in the eastern DRC.

Following the deaths of the South African soldiers, there have been strong calls for them to return home.