Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has directed the country’s military to commence preparations for withdrawing from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where they have been part of a regional peacekeeping mission. The Malawian troops, deployed under the Southern African Development Community’s military intervention (SAMIDRC), have been assisting in efforts to contain the armed insurgency in the volatile eastern region of the country.
The decision to pull out comes in the wake of heavy casualties sustained by peacekeeping forces. Last week, at least 20 soldiers—including 14 from South Africa and three from Malawi—were killed as the M23 rebel group seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. Addressing the nation on Wednesday, President Chakwera stated that the withdrawal was a strategic move to “honour the declaration of a ceasefire by the parties,” even though reports indicate that hostilities persist in the region.
In a televised statement, the Malawian leader emphasized that withdrawing troops would help facilitate the peace process. “This decision paves the way for planned negotiations towards lasting stability in the region,” he said. Malawi’s Information Minister, Moses Kunkuyu, reinforced this stance during an interview with BBC Newsday, stressing that the withdrawal was being carried out “in good faith” and in alignment with resolutions made by regional leaders.
At a recent meeting in Tanzania, held on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Summit, southern African leaders had called for a ceasefire to allow diplomatic efforts to take shape. Kunkuyu noted that Chakwera’s move was in line with this resolution, as it would create an environment conducive to peace talks. “The president believes that Malawi can best contribute to peace-building by ensuring its troops step back, allowing room for meaningful dialogue,” he said.
While no exact timeline has been provided for the withdrawal, the minister confirmed that Malawi has informed both the DRC government and the SADC leadership of its intentions. Discussions on the operational aspects of the pullout are still ongoing.
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Rising Tensions Despite Ceasefire Claims
The decision to withdraw comes against the backdrop of renewed violence in eastern DRC. Earlier this week, the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels declared a unilateral ceasefire for humanitarian purposes, set to take effect on Tuesday. However, fighting quickly resumed, with the rebels reportedly capturing the mining town of Nyabibwe in South Kivu province.
The escalating conflict has placed immense pressure on regional governments participating in the peacekeeping mission. While Malawi has chosen to step back, South Africa has taken a different stance. President Cyril Ramaphosa has insisted that South African troops will remain in DRC, citing their commitment to the SAMIDRC mission, which has a defined operational timeframe extending until December 2024.
The southern African peacekeeping force, authorized by SADC in 2023, was initially tasked with deploying 5,000 troops—2,900 from South Africa, with the remainder shared between Malawi and Tanzania. However, the current troop levels in the conflict zone remain unclear.
Meanwhile, Malawi still has soldiers serving in DRC under the United Nations peacekeeping mission, Monusco.
With tensions escalating, regional leaders are set to convene in Tanzania this Saturday for a special joint summit between SADC and the East African Community. The summit is expected to focus on the ongoing crisis, with both DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, scheduled to attend. Their presence is significant, given the long-standing tensions between the two nations, with DRC accusing Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels—an allegation Kigali has repeatedly denied.
Elsewhere, reports suggesting that Uganda has deployed additional troops to eastern DRC have been denied by the Ugandan military, even as fighting around Goma intensifies.
The continued violence in eastern DRC has led to significant humanitarian concerns. The UN reports that nearly 3,000 people have been killed since the M23 rebels launched their campaign to seize Goma. Additionally, the rapid displacement of civilians has raised fears of disease outbreaks, including cholera and Mpox.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the M23 rebels have begun establishing governance structures in the areas they control. On Thursday, the group held a rally in Goma’s Unity Stadium, where its leader, Corneille Nangaa, addressed large crowds. This development comes despite an outstanding arrest warrant issued by a Kinshasa military court against Nangaa for war crimes and treason.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has also signaled its concern over the growing violence, stating that its prosecutors are closely monitoring the crisis, particularly given the “grave escalation” over the past week.
