Troops from the military mission of the Economic Community of Southern African States have been ordered to withdraw from the town of Goma. The latest news is that they will be going via Rwanda, the country whose troops they fought on Congolese territory.

Initially a deterrent force against armed groups including the M23

The resurgent M23 rebel movement seized swathes of territory, and neither the United Nations peacekeeping mission nor the East African regional force could help the FARDC stop their advance.

In December 2023, Congo said SADC troops were mandated “to support the Congolese army in fighting and eradicating the M23 and other armed groups that continue to disrupt peace and security.”

Troops from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi started deploying in Sake and surrounding areas near Goma in December 2023. But they watched the Rwandan-backed rebels take Goma without stopping them. After the fall of the city of Bukavu, the hope of liberation faded. Since then, they have lived under M23 surveillance, with every exit escorted by the M23 and carrying a white flag. In March, SADC soldiers, particularly South Africans, expressed their refusal to leave Congolese territory via the Rwandan border, according to diplomatic sources.

A sombre departure

After the city of Goma fell into the hands of the M23 at the end of January, the SAMIRDC troops attempted to leave the city by the front door. First, the SADC heads of state and government decided to withdraw their troops from the DRC. Then an agreement between this force and the M23, which was supposed to support the viability of Goma airport so that they could leave with their military effects by air.

But after the M23 ultimatum calling for troops to leave the territories under its control as soon as possible since April 13, pressure is mounting on this force. The M23 want the SADC troops to leave quickly. The rebellion, which controls their every move, accuses them of supporting an attack to take the town of Goma. SADC categorically denies this.

Finally, “the troops of the @SADC_News Mission (#SAMIDRC) will leave #Goma by road via #Rwanda in order to assemble in #Chato in #Tanzania, where each contributing country (#Malawi, South Africa and #Tanzania) will collect its elements”, says journalist Fiston Mahamba on his Twitter account. Several other SADC sources confirmed this information anonymously. The troops must leave as soon as possible to avoid any uninitiated clashes.

But the big question is whether they will really go through Rwanda, given that the training mercenaries left the town filmed, unarmed, with their hands on their heads and in line. These images are unbearable for the Tanzanian and South African armies, which are among the top five in Africa.

Wait and see.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma