- Malawi orders military withdrawal from DR Congo amid ongoing conflict.
- President Chakwera cites ceasefire efforts but fighting continues.
- M23 rebels advance despite calls for peace negotiations.
Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has directed the military to begin preparations for withdrawing its troops from the volatile eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where they have been serving under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) military mission (SAMIDRC).
The decision follows the recent deaths of at least 20 peacekeepers, including 14 South Africans and three Malawians, during fierce clashes with M23 rebels, who last week captured the strategic city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.
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Chakwera stated that the withdrawal aims to “honour the declaration of a ceasefire by the parties” and facilitate peace negotiations, though fighting continues despite the rebels’ unilateral truce declaration.
Malawi’s Information Minister, Moses Kunkuyu, emphasized that the withdrawal was “made in good faith” following a recent meeting of southern African leaders in Tanzania, where a ceasefire was called to enable peace talks. He confirmed that Malawian officials had informed both DR Congo’s government and SADC leaders of the decision, though no exact timeline for withdrawal was given.
Despite the ceasefire announcement by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels on Monday, fighting has resumed, with reports indicating that the group has now seized the mining town of Nyabibwe in South Kivu province.
Chakwera has faced growing pressure to pull Malawian forces out of DR Congo following the loss of peacekeepers. Meanwhile, South Africa has resisted similar calls, with President Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirming his commitment to the SAMIDRC mission, which is scheduled to continue until at least December 2024.
Since capturing Goma, M23 rebels have intensified efforts to seize more territory, including South Kivu’s capital, Bukavu. In response, Congolese authorities have mobilized hundreds of civilian volunteers to help defend the city.
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The rebel group has also begun appointing officials, including a governor for North Kivu, to govern occupied areas.
The UN estimates that nearly 3,000 people have been killed during M23’s violent campaign, while humanitarian agencies warn of worsening conditions, with diseases such as Mpox and cholera threatening to spread beyond Goma.
