Africa-Press – Rwanda. SADC troops left eastern DR Congo as part of a phased withdrawal that began in April with the transportation of equipment and logistical assets.
Several buses transported the troops from Goma and Sake bases as they withdrew from the conflict-ridden country through Rwanda.
The SADC mission is made up of troops from Tanzania, Malawi and South Africa. Through Rwanda, the troops will arrive in Tanzania, from where they will depart to their respective countries.
The second phase entails the repatriation of mission personnel along with their personal belongings, and the remaining operational equipment.
“This process is being implemented in a structured and coordinated manner to ensure the safe return of mission personnel and equipment,” the SADC Secretariat said in a statement on Thursday, June 12.
The SADC forces had been part of a Congolese government coalition fighting the AFC/M23 rebels, who now control swathes pf territory in eastern DR Congo, including Goma and Bukavu, the provincial capitals of North and South Kivu Kivu provinces, respectively.
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 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.
The SADC forces withdraw at a time when peace efforts have gained momentum, with the Congolese government and the rebels having met and agreed on a ceasefire in their the first direct negotiations.
On April 23, the two parties jointly announced they had decided to pursue a peaceful resolution of the conflict, following Qatar-mediated peace talks that had begun on April 10 in Doha.
Rwanda and DR Congo, whose diplomatic relations took a hit from the conflict, on April 25 reached an important agreement to resolve the sticking issues, thanks to mediation by the US government.
Rwanda has for years raised concerns about DR Congo’s collaboration with the FDLR, a UN-sanctioned group founded by perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. DR Congo accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, allegations Rwanda dismisses pointing out that it has put in place defensive measures to prevent the security threats from materialising.
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