The second contingent of troops from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to support government forces against M23 rebels, has withdrawn, passing through Rwanda.
At around 8:00 PM on Sunday, May 4, the convoy of trucks carrying military equipment departed from Rubavu District.
By 9:50 PM, the trucks had reached Musanze town, suggesting they likely arrived in Kigali around midnight.
Footage captured by a BWIZA reporter showed at least 35 large military trucks transporting SADC equipment, escorted by Rwanda’s police and army.
This withdrawal follows the first batch of SADC forces, which left the DRC on Thursday, May 2, 2025.
Back in late January this year, SADC troops had been besieged in Goma after M23 captured the city, driving out both Congolese government troops and their allied forces.
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, recently stated that the presence of troops from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania in eastern Congo had exacerbated the region’s security crisis.
He said: “Rwanda is providing a safe passage and peaceful escort for SAMIDRC military vehicles withdrawing from eastern DRC via Rwanda, heading to Tanzania, along with their equipment.”
“The constant presence of SAMIDRC troops in the DRC contributed to escalating tensions, so their withdrawal marks a positive step towards supporting ongoing peace efforts.”
SADC initially deployed its troops to eastern Congo in late 2023 to assist in a conflict that has lasted over three years.
They had replaced East African Community (EAC) forces, which the Congolese government expelled for refusing to directly engage in combat with M23.
