The fifth convoy of military equipment used by SADC forces in the fight against the M23 rebel group passed through Rwanda on Thursday, heading back home.
On Thursday afternoon into the evening, trucks loaded with weapons and military vehicles departed from Rubavu District en route to Chato, Tanzania.
By 6:00 p.m., the first truck had entered Musanze City.
A BWIZA journalist based in northern Rwanda observed at least 39 trucks, escorted by Rwanda National Police and RDF (Rwandan Defense Forces), carrying military equipment used by SADC forces.
These trucks add to the 120 that had previously passed through Rwanda in the last four convoys.
This brings the total number of SADC military trucks and weaponry that transited through Rwanda to 159.
SADC deployed troops from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania to the Democratic Republic of Congo in late 2023 to assist the Congolese government in fighting M23 rebels.
The decision to withdraw the troops via Rwanda came after SADC forces suffered setbacks in January during fighting in Goma, which ended with M23 taking control of the city, the capital of North Kivu province.
