Cape Town: South African forces said Thursday that they have begun withdrawing peacekeeping forces from rebel-controlled eastern Congo.
South Africa’s Defense Forces said the troops began moving earlier this week, moving through nearby Rwanda to Tanzania, and from there they would return home.
Peacekeeping forces from Malawi and Tanzania have also begun to withdraw from the Congo. The three countries contributed their soldiers to peacekeeping forces in southern Africa, but they were left trapped in East Congo after Rwandan-backed M23 rebels launched an attack in late January and ruled the strategic city of Goma.
In January, 14 South Africans and three Malaiwan soldiers were killed in battle with the M23. Regional agencies in southern Africa decided to end their peacekeeping mission early in March and bring the troops home.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Ndungung said in X that his country is providing escorts for safe passageways and peacekeeping forces and their equipment.
On Wednesday, hundreds of marginalized Congolese government soldiers and police officers began moving from Goma to Kinshasa, the Congolese capital, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which, along with their families, was escorting them.
According to UN experts, the M23 controls Goma and the second major city in eastern Congo, and is supported by a force of around 4,000 people from Rwanda.
The Congo and Rwanda have held talks via Qatar, supported by the US and said they are working towards a peace deal.
