Malawi to Withdraw Troops from Eastern Congo Ahead of Regional Security Talks

Malawi has begun preparations to withdraw its troops from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), ahead of an emergency meeting of East African and Southern African leaders, President Lazarus Chakwera’s office said on Monday.

The Malawian troops are part of a regional force deployed under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to combat armed insurgents in the conflict-hit region.

The bloc extended the mission late last year, but recent diplomatic efforts have pushed for de-escalation.

“President Chakwera has directed the Malawi Defense Force (MDF) commander to initiate preparations for the withdrawal of Malawian troop to honour the ceasefire declaration by the warring parties and to facilitate planned negotiations for lasting peace,” the presidency said in a statement.

The move comes as East African Community (EAC) chair William Ruto said leaders from both regional blocs had agreed to jointly assess the situation in eastern Congo.

“Through our collective effort, we will ensure security prevails on our continent,” said Ruto, who is also Kenya’s president.

An extraordinary summit in Dar es Salaam is expected to bring together regional heads of state, including Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan, DRC’s Félix Tshisekedi, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, and Somalia’s Hassan Mohamud.

Mr Tshisekedi had previously skipped a virtual meeting on the crisis, raising concerns about his commitment to the peace process.

A rebel alliance, including the M23 insurgents, declared a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons starting Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Mr Kagame said he held discussions with European Council President António Costa about the DRC conflict.

“Had a fruitful conversation… We agreed on the need for effective de-escalation and a resolution that prioritises political dialogue and ensures lasting peace,” Kagame posted on social media platform X.

Diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent weeks as regional leaders push for a sustainable solution to the long-running conflict.

gandae@businessdayafrica.org