Southern African bloc vows commitment to end insecurity in Eastern DRC

As part of efforts to end the raging bloodshed in the region, the Southern African regional leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to their peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo in the face of the instability that has wreaked havoc in the country.

In a statement, leaders meeting at a summit in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, re-emphasised their commitment to SADC’s mutual defence pact, declaring that “an armed attack against one shall be deemed a threat to regional peace and security.”

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) sent its Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) on December 15 to assist the Congolese government in restoring peace and security in the east, where rival clashes have been raging.

The regional bloc deployed the mission in eastern Congo in May 2023 with a mandate to support the Congolese army in its fight against armed rebel groups.

The regional leaders also expressed their displeasure with Rwanda’s letter to the United Nations Security Council in February, which opposed its plan to support the Southern African mission.

The Eastern DRC has been plagued by unrest for many years, but conflict and violence have worsened since 2022.

Over 6 million people are estimated to be displaced in the eastern DRC, making this the worst displacement crisis in Africa and among the top three globally, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund,UNICEF.