The Southern African Development Community mission, which suffered losses this year, will “gradually evacuate” its troops.

The Southern African Regional Group said it would end its deployment of troops in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and decided to conduct a “phase evacuation”.

Leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) of 16 countries with at least one soldier in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo held a virtual summit on Thursday to discuss an ongoing conflict Thirty years turmoil.

The meeting was the second day after Angola declared peace talks between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel groups.

In a communique released after the summit, the organization said that DC’s mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (also known as Samidrc) would be “terminated… and directed the start of the phased evacuation of Samidelk troops.”

M23 captures the mineral-rich and volatile small pieces of the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, including the main cities of Goma and Bukavo Lightning forward Since January.

The Congolese government says at least 7,000 dead since then.

Although officials did not comment on the scale of the military deployment, most of the Samidel soldiers were from South Africa, which was estimated to have sent at least 1,000 soldiers.

South Africa lost 14 soldiers in the conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in January. Most are part of the African Development Community mission, but at least two are deployed as part of a separate United Nations peacekeeping mission. Elsewhere, three Malawian troops in the African Development Community deployment were also killed.

The mission was sent to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in December 2023 to help the government restore peace and security in attacks by armed groups, including M23.

“Timely” meeting

Opening Thursday’s summit, Emmerson Mnangagwa, president of the African Development Community and Zimbabwean President, called for a “greater sense of urgency” to end the fight, which he said has led to instability outside the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

He said the inclusive dialogue was crucial, adding that the review of the mandate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was “timely”.

Angola Presidential Office Announce A direct dialogue between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and M23 will begin next week later Wednesday.

It said: “Follow the steps of mediation in Angola…the delegations from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and M23 will begin direct peace negotiations in the city of Lulanda on March 18.”

Angolan President Joao Lourenco earlier met with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, who had previously refused to talk to M23 as requested by Rwanda. Kinshasa has previously said it would talk to Kigali, accusing it of supporting M23.

On Thursday, two Congolese government sources told Reuters news agency that the latest Angolan proposal was being considered seriously.

“It’s a starting process. Kinshasa hopes it’s short, but it could be long, and it will be decided by the head of state to decide who represents the government side,” a source said on the condition of anonymous.

“Even if there is a direct connection to M23, Kigali’s responsibility will not be ruled out,” another source said.

The evacuation, which announced the evacuation, has stood out from Africa, is helping the Democratic Republic of the Congo protest rebel groups, a further blow to Tshisekedi, who faces criticism of his handling of the latest advances in M23.

Rwanda Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe told Reuters on Thursday that the withdrawal was “a good decision that would help peace”.

UN experts said Rwanda supports M23 and maintains about 3,000-4,000 soldiers in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to support the organization. Rwanda denies providing military assistance to the rebels.