SADC extends military mission in eastern DRC
The Southern African Development Community has extended its military mission in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo for another year.
Led by the South African National Defence Force, the mission is part of a regional force deployed to assist the DRC government in combating the M23 rebels.
The announcement came after this week’s extraordinary SADC summit in Harare.
The mineral-rich eastern DRC has been engulfed in conflict for more than three decades.
The SADC mission, involving troops from South Africa, Tanzania, Malawi, and Burundi, was deployed to North Kivu in December last year, ahead of the DRC's general elections that secured President Felix Tshisekedi a second term.
Despite international backing, including the SADC force, violence persists.
Over six million people remain displaced, and 27 million are food insecure due to ongoing conflict and disrupted farming.
Human rights violations, including sexual violence and child recruitment, remain rampant.
The M23 rebel group, allegedly supported by Rwanda, continues to resist regional and government forces.
SADC leaders reaffirmed their commitment to peace, recognising the efforts of the African Union and the United Nations, in seeking solutions to stabilise the region.
They also commended Angola's President, João Lourenço, for his mediation efforts through the Luanda Process, which facilitated a ceasefire agreement between the DRC and Rwanda earlier this year.
However, leaders expressed concern over persistent violations of the ceasefire and called for enhanced coordination among stakeholders to achieve a sustainable resolution to the conflict.
In a statement, President Felix Tshisekedi extended his gratitude to SADC for its unwavering commitment to restoring peace and security in the DRC.
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