South African forces deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of a regional peacekeeping mission are expected to complete their withdrawal by the end of May, according to South Africa’s military leadership.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, General Rudzani Maphwanya, Chief of the South African National Defence Force, confirmed that troops have begun assembling in Tanzania as part of a phased pullout that began on 29 April. Personnel will return home via air transport, while military equipment will be shipped by sea.
The soldiers, deployed under the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) peacekeeping mission known as SAMIDRC, were sent to the eastern DRC in December 2023 to address the resurgence of the M23 rebel group. The group now controls significant portions of territory in the resource-rich region.
Maphwanya said 13 trucks carrying 57 South African troops have already reached a designated assembly point in Tanzania, with additional groups scheduled to follow in the coming days. “Most of the personnel will be back in South Africa by the end of May, except for those overseeing the shipment of cargo,” he noted.
The SADC mission officially decided to end its deployment in March following intense fighting that left 17 of its soldiers — the majority South African — dead during M23 offensives in January. The withdrawal, SADC leaders confirmed, would include all personnel and equipment, with Maphwanya stating: “SADC is not leaving even a pin in eastern DRC.”
The size of the SAMIDRC deployment has not been officially disclosed, though estimates suggest South Africa contributed at least 1,300 troops. South African personnel are also stationed in the DRC under a separate United Nations peacekeeping operation.
Pressure for withdrawal intensified in South Africa after 14 of its soldiers were killed in January. Additional casualties included three Malawian troops and two Tanzanian soldiers.
Maphwanya emphasized that the withdrawal should not be seen as a retreat. “Our withdrawal is a technical move that allows peace and mediation to continue,” he said.
Meanwhile, a separate evacuation began on 30 April for hundreds of Congolese soldiers and police trapped in UN bases in Goma since the M23 seized control of the city.
The M23 group has been accused by both UN experts and the United States of receiving military support from Rwanda — allegations Kigali continues to deny.