M23 Rebellion: SADC Moves to Dispatch Military Force to Congo

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders have given a green light to the deployment of a military force in Eastern Congo to restore peace and stability. 

According to a joint communique released at the end of  meeting held on Thursday in Luanda, Angola, the “Summit also received an update on the security situation in the eastern DRC and endorsed the deployment of the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) to restore peace and security in the eastern DRC.”

No timeline was given for the deployment of the force in eastern Congo where government forces have been battling M23 rebels over the last two years.

The meeting was attended by Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, DRC’s Felix Tshisekedi, Malawian leader, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera and Mozambique’s Filipe Jacinto Nyusi.

Other leaders include South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, Zambian leader Hakainde Hichilema and Zimbabwe’s Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and Namibia’s Dr. Hage Gottfried Geingob.

The development comes amid heightened tensions between the border of Rwanda and DRC. 

Kinshasa accuses Kigali of arming M23 rebels, a claim Rwanda denies. 

On the other hand, Kigali accuses Kinshasa of arming and fighting alongside the Rwandan genocidal group, FDLR, to attack Rwandan territory. 

Both countries have increased their armed forces and military equipment along the border area in preparation of a possible all-out war. 

The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken on Tuesday phoned Rwandan President, Paul Kagame over tensions with the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Washington in a statement released by the Department of State, said the duo “discussed the volatile situation along the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).”

The call followed the recent visit of Acting Deputy Secretary, Victoria Nuland to Kinshasa to meet with President Felix Tshisekedi.

Blinken also conveyed the U.S strong call for a “diplomatic solution between the two countries and request for each side to take measures to de-escalate the situation.”

A recent extraordinary meeting of SADC Troika and Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) troop contributing countries approved the deployment of a SADC Force within the framework of the SADC Standby Force as a regional response in support of the DRC to restore peace and security in Eastern DRC.

The South African leaders said they “noted with great concern the unstable and deteriorating security situation prevailing in the Eastern DRC and reiterated strong condemnation of the upsurge of conflicts and activities of Armed Groups (IAGs) including the resurgence of M23 rebels in the DRC.”

Deadly force 

In 2013, SADC’s FIB, comprising troops from Tanzania, Malawi and South Africa defeated the M23 rebels operating in DRC.

Tanzanians under former President Jakaya Kikwete provided elite forces and artillery to attack M23’s bases especially in Rumangabo while South Africa under Jacob Zuma supported the military operation with the air force. 

Under attack by heavy artillery and South Africa’s warplanes, M23 rebels, including their commander Sultani Makenga, fled their strongholds to Uganda and Rwanda.

The rebels would later return to DRC during the last months of Joseph Kabila’s reign. 

In 2021, M23 resumed their offensive operations against DRC forces, sparking a huge influx of Congolese refugees to neighboring countries. 

The East African leaders recently deployed a regional force in eastern DRC to protect civilians and create a conducive atmosphere for M23 to hold talks with President Felix Thisekedi’s government. 

But Tshisekedi dismissed the regional force as impotent and unable to confront M23 rebels.

Under pressure to deliver on his campaign promises to restore peace and security in eastern DRC, Tshisekedi has been flying in the region to mobilise a new force to help him deal with M23 rebels.

The deployment of the FIB to help the DRC combat M23 forces could be a game changer for Tshisekedi who is facing a presidential election later this year.