The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has turned to a regional military force from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to help regain territory lost to the M23 rebel group in the country’s volatile east.
The deployment marks a new chapter in the long-running conflict, raising hopes for a decisive push against the insurgents while leaving uncertainty about the future of UN peacekeeping efforts.
The M23, dormant for several years, re-emerged in late 2021 and swiftly seized swathes of North Kivu province.
Western governments and the UN have accused neighboring Rwanda of backing the rebels, a charge Kigali vehemently denies. Despite diplomatic efforts, the conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands and inflicted heavy civilian casualties.
Enter the SADC force. Since mid-December, troops from regional powerhouses like South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi have discreetly crossed into the DRC.
“The SADC force has arrived,” confirmed Lieutenant-General Fall Sikabwe, coordinator for military operations in North Kivu. “These are well-equipped, well-trained professionals who can turn the tide on the ground.”
The SADC deployment replaces an East African peacekeeping force whose mandate Kinshasa revoked, accusing it of collaborating with the M23 rather than combating them.
Sikabwe emphasized the new force’s “offensive mission to reclaim illegally occupied territory,” with displaced residents promised a return home once secured.
Further complicating the security landscape, the DRC requested and secured a UN peacekeeping withdrawal, slated for completion by year’s end.
Despite domestic tension, Kinshasa insists the 1999-deployed MONUSCO mission has failed to adequately protect civilians from the myriad armed groups plaguing eastern DRC for decades.
The SADC arrival injects fresh energy into the fight against the M23, but several unknowns remain. The force’s composition, size, and operational details are yet to be fully disclosed.
Moreover, the effectiveness of regional intervention, Rwanda’s potential actions, and the long-term implications of MONUSCO’s departure all hang in the balance.
As DRC pins its hopes on the SADC troops, only time will tell if this marks a turning point in the eastern conflict or simply another chapter in its tragic saga.
