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Fungi Kwaramba, News Editor
SADC will take full responsibility for the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and take decisive action to deal with the deteriorating security issues in the Eastern parts of the vast and resource rich country, the bloc’s chairman President Mnangagwa has said.
In a statement last night, President Mnangagwa “expressed grave concern” over the security situation in Eastern DRC, where rebels have reportedly seized the city of Goma, leaving a bloody trail and displacing hundreds.
“The Chairman of Sadc, His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa expresses grave concern on the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the Eastern DRC occasioned by the offensive operations of the M23 rebels. The Chairman condemns, unreservedly, the cowardly attacks on the UN and Sadc peacekeepers that have resulted in some of them paying the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of peace in the Eastern DRC,” read the statement issued by the Sadc Secretariat.
The death toll from fighting between peacekeeping soldiers and M23 rebels in eastern Congo has reached 13.
The number includes nine South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers and others from Malawi and Uruguay deployed as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional force or under the UN mission in Congo (MONUSCO).
“The Chairman of SADC presents his condolences to the families of the deceased peacekeepers and wishes those injured a quick recovery. The Chairman of SADC points out that SADC will assume its full responsibility and take action to deal with the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Eastern DRC. Those responsible for the situation should be held accountable,” read the statement.
Since 2021, M23 rebels have gained control over significant areas of the mineral-rich eastern DRC.
This escalation has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands of individuals fleeing their homes. According to the United Nations, hundreds have also been killed.
In recent weeks, M23 has made rapid advances towards Goma, a city with a population exceeding one million.
Intense fighting in the region has further exacerbated the situation, leading to heightened fears among residents.
As of early 2025, over 400 000 people had been displaced in the provinces of North and South Kivu, which are located near the border with Rwanda.
The UN’s refugee agency has reported a growing humanitarian need as families are forced to flee their homes in search of safety and shelter.
In an earlier statement, the Sadc Secretariat noted that the M23 aggression was in violation of the peace agreement that was struck by Angolan leader, President Joase Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, between the DRC Government and the rebels.
“The actions of the M23 armed group contravenes the Nairobi Peace Process and is a clear violation of the agreed ceasefire brokered through the Luanda Process led by His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola in his capacity as the African Union Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa. We, therefore, call on all parties in the conflict to adhere to their obligations in the ceasefire, calling for immediate cessation of hostilities and atrocities perpetrated by M23 as well as unconditional withdrawal from all occupied positions,” reads the statement.
“Sadc further encourages all parties to the conflict in Eastern DRC to comply with the terms and conditions of the existing peace agreements and engage through dialogue for everlasting peace, security and stability in the DRC and the Region.”
The regional bloc reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to continue supporting the DRC in its pursuit of safeguarding its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as sustainable peace, security and development.
Online Reporter