SADC renews its mission in eastern DRC by a year

The Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have extended the bloc's mission in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) by one year.

This follows an extraordinary summit held on Wednesday in Harare, during which an update on the mission's progress was presented.

The communiqué released after the summit stated: "Summit received updates on the peace and security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), expressed concern at the continued deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in the country, and reiterated SADC's support to the Government of the DRC towards resolving the conflict and achieving lasting peace, stability, and security in the country."

The leaders called for strengthened and coordinated efforts among all relevant stakeholders to achieve a peaceful and sustainable resolution to the conflict in eastern DRC. These efforts are to be conducted within the framework of coordination and harmonisation of peace initiatives and processes agreed upon at the Quadripartite Summit held on June 27, 2023, in Luanda, Republic of Angola.

They also welcomed the continued efforts of the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council in exploring options to support SAMIDRC.

The leaders further condemned the persistent violations of the ceasefire established on August 4, 2024, and urged all parties to fully comply with their obligations to maintain peace and security in the region.

SAMIDRC was deployed in December last year under an offensive mandate following the withdrawal of the Kenyan-led East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) on December 8, when its mandate expired. The current mandate for SAMIDRC was set to expire in December 2024.

The security situation in eastern DRC has deteriorated significantly in recent months. Clashes between the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and M23 rebels have persisted, leading to continued violations of ceasefires.

The summit reiterated its condemnation of the ceasefire violations and called for strict adherence by all parties to ensure regional stability.

Since its deployment, SAMIDRC, composed of troops from Malawi, South Africa, and Tanzania, has faced significant challenges in making progress in the region. The M23 armed group has returned to areas it had previously vacated.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, who is the SADC Chairperson, said on Thursday: "I opened the extraordinary summit by honouring the gallant sons and daughters who sacrificed their lives for peace, particularly in the DRC. Together in unity and the legacy of our founding fathers, let's support the people of the DRC. Our region must never settle for less."

Ongoing fighting has led to the loss of several SAMIDRC soldiers, equipment, and key resources, including bases.

In March, the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to "provide the required material and financial resources to enable SAMIDRC to effectively discharge its mandate."

In August, the UNSC authorised the UN peacekeeping mission in eastern DRC, MONUSCO, to support SAMIDRC with technical assistance, logistical aid, and military capabilities. SAMIDRC was due to report on its progress to the UNSC last Friday.