‘SADC Mission in DRC bearing positive results’

Harmony Agere

Since the deployment of the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) in December 2023, the security situation in the Mission’s area of operation has remained calm, the bloc’s Executive Secretary Mr Elias Magosi has said.

Speaking during the official opening of the Extraordinary SADC Council of Ministers meeting in Harare on Monday, Mr Magosi said while the situation remains delicate, there is a need to build on this progress.

“This extraordinary meeting of the Council has been convened in preparation for the Extraordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for the 20th of November, 2024, to discuss, primarily, the prevailing security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the related challenges that continue to persist,” he said.

“Since the deployment of the SAMIDRC, I wish to report that the security situation in the Mission’s area of operation remains relatively calm as a result of a series of political and diplomatic initiatives undertaken over the past four months, including the two-week Humanitarian Truce that was reached in July this year, and a Ceasefire Deal reached between the Governments of Rwanda and the DRC on 4 August this year.”

However, Mr Magosi said the security situation in the eastern part of the DRC remains a source of regional concern requiring constant monitoring.

He said the security threat in DRC is a result of the resurgence of armed groups including the M23 which are operating in the area.