Southern African leaders have agreed to continue deploying peacekeeping forces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the capture of a key regional hub by rebels allegedly backed by Rwanda.
This resolution was reached during an emergency summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) held in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Friday.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who chairs the regional bloc, emphasized the need for “bold and decisive measures” to strengthen the peacekeeping mission.
The SADC military contingent suffered significant casualties last week, with approximately a dozen soldiers from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania losing their lives as M23 rebels took control of Goma.
While the rebels have expressed intentions to extend their offensive toward the distant capital, Kinshasa, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has called for large-scale military mobilization to counter the insurgency.
