Hundreds of troops from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional force, known as SAMIDRC, officially exited the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this Wednesday, traveling through Rwanda in route to their home countries. This marks the largest withdrawal of peacekeeping forces since the beginning of their deployment in late 2023.
Note: Company, Blog, Church websites are free.
A long convoy of buses, reportedly carrying around 700 soldiers, entered Rwanda from the eastern DRC city of Goma at around 11:00 a.m., making their way along the Rubavu–Musanze–Kigali–Rusumo route toward Tanzania.
According to reports, the troops came from Tanzania, South Africa, and Malawi the three SADC countries that had contributed forces to the SAMIDRC mission. The military operation was launched as part of a regional effort to address security concerns in eastern DRC, particularly those linked to the ongoing conflict involving the AFC/M23 movement coalition.
This latest withdrawal is the first large-scale return of SAMIDRC troops since smaller contingents began leaving the DRC in April and May 2025. Those earlier movements mainly included units tasked with escorting military equipment back to their countries.
On June 11, SADC released a statement confirming that the troops would continue their journey to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where the soldiers from South Africa and Malawi would then board flights to return home.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed it is preparing to receive its personnel on June 13.
The SAMIDRC mission began in late 2023 as part of a broader effort by SADC member states to stabilize the eastern DRC. The region has long suffered from insecurity due to the presence of numerous armed groups, with the AFC/M23 coalition emerging as one of the most active rebel factions.
In March 2025, the heads of state of SADC decided to end the SAMIDRC mission, citing the importance of pursuing peace through dialogue. The withdrawal aligns with regional diplomatic efforts aimed at encouraging negotiations among all parties involved in the conflict.
Rwanda has served as a crucial logistical corridor for the repatriation of the troops, facilitating their safe passage from eastern Congo to Tanzania. This role highlights Rwanda’s position in regional peacekeeping dynamics, especially given its proximity to the volatile North Kivu region.
As the withdrawal proceeds, questions remain about the future of security in eastern DRC and the next steps in efforts to resolve the long-standing conflict involving movement groups like M23. For now, the departure of SAMIDRC troops marks the end of a significant chapter in regional military involvement in the Congolese crisis.
