Africa-Press – Rwanda. Members of the SADC mission began their withdrawal from conflict-ridden eastern DR Congo through Rwanda on Tuesday, April 29.
Vehicles carrying at least 57 troops and civilian trucks carrying military equipment departed from La Corniche Border Post in Rubavu District around 11 a.m., heading to Rusumo border with Tanzania, sources told The New Times.
The initial group comprised 32 South Africans, 16 Malawians and 9 Tanzanians.
They were escorted by Rwanda Defence Force.
From Rusumo, they will continue to Chato in Tanzania, the sources said.
WATCH: Members of the SADC mission began their withdrawal from conflict-ridden eastern DR Congo through Rwanda on Tuesday, April 29.https://t.co/TsoThUXEbM pic.twitter.com/OjiAjt86Dy
— The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) April 29, 2025
The SADC forces had been part of a Congolese government coalition fighting the AFC/M23 rebels in North Kivu province.
The troops’ passage through Rwanda from the rebel-controlled province follows a SADC request sent to the Rwandan government in mid-April asking to facilitate their exit.
The Congolese government coalition, which includes the genocidal militia FDLR, Burundian forces and Wazalendo groups, has seen losses since January when the AFC/M23 rebels took control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu.
On March 28, the rebels and the SADC mission had signed an agreement on the withdrawal of the South Africa-led SADC forces from DR Congo, with the rebels allowing the former to leave eastern DR Congo with their weapons and equipment.
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