Democratic Republic of the Congo

As the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has intensified in recent months, the UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, has been working to protect civilians - including in areas under the control of the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group in North Kivu province.

Former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta and ex-Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo remain on the team, while former Ethiopian president Sahle-Work Zewde replaces another ex-Ethiopian leader, Hailemariam Desalegn. Former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe and ex-Central African Republic president Catherine Samba-Panza were added. … The moves come after Angola stepped aside from the negotiations on Monday, citing other engagements on its mandate as the head of the African Union.  

Since its deployment in December 2023, the regional force has failed to push back M23 and has suffered several casualties. SAMIDRC’s withdrawal is the second SADC deployment that has ended inconclusively – the first being the bloc’s mission in Mozambique. Why are these military interventions failing, and what does this mean for future regional operations?

M23 seized the mining hub in its farthest advance west, despite calls for a ceasefire from DRC and Rwanda.

The premature withdrawal of SADC troops reveals deep-seated political problems and military capacity limitations.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame have called for an "immediate ceasefire" in eastern DR Congo, after having direct talks in Qatar.

[…] Immediate actions within the next 30 days include initiating direct military engagement to enforce an unconditional ceasefire, reopening Goma and Kavumu airports to facilitate humanitarian access, and establishing a Joint EAC-SADC Verification Mechanism to monitor compliance with ceasefire agreements.

[…] These restrictive measures have been adopted in view of the escalation of the conflict in eastern DRC related to the renewed offensive of the March 23 Movement(M23) / Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) supported by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).

The Southern African regional bloc has said it will conclude its troop deployment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), having decided on a “phased withdrawal”.

Direct peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels will begin in the Angolan capital on March 18, Angola's presidency said in a statement on Wednesday.