South African Soldiers Begin Withdrawal from Eastern DRC, Army Confirms

Edited by : Widad WAHBI

South African soldiers stranded in the city of Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have begun a discreet withdrawal from their base, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) announced on Friday.

“The gradual withdrawal of soldiers and equipment from eastern DRC has already commenced,” the SANDF stated in an official press release.

The army explained that the withdrawal follows a directive issued by the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), held virtually on March 13.

Rear Admiral Prince Tshabalala said that the summit, along with subsequent meetings of SADC defense ministers and military chiefs from troop-contributing countries to the SAMIDRC mission, approved a withdrawal plan via a land route through Rwanda and Tanzania.

He noted that a reconnaissance mission, comprising representatives from Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, and the SADC Secretariat, was carried out between April 14 and 19 to assess and confirm the withdrawal route from Goma through Rwanda to Chato in Tanzania.

“The team’s findings enabled the finalization of a withdrawal plan that ensures the safe and effective return of personnel and equipment,” Tshabalala explained, adding that the withdrawal would proceed in phased stages.

Approximately 2,000 South African soldiers had been trapped in “perilous” conditions in eastern DRC following an offensive by M23 rebels in Goma. The troops were deployed as part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in DRC (SAMIDRC) to help end the ongoing conflict.

The capture of key cities by insurgents, including Goma and Bukavu, has severely disrupted humanitarian efforts and heightened the urgency for troop withdrawal.