Malawi Announces Troop Withdrawal from DR Congo

Malawi has announced plans to withdraw its troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following a ceasefire declared by the M23 armed group last Tuesday.

President Lazarus Chakwera has instructed the Malawi Defense Forces to prepare for departure, citing the recent truce as a key factor in the decision.

Malawian troops have been part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) military mission, which was deployed in 2023 to support the Congolese government in addressing instability in the eastern region. 

According to Malawi’s presidency, the withdrawal decision was made in good faith.

However, military analysts point out that decisions regarding SADC's regional force in the DRC should be made collectively rather than unilaterally by individual member states.

With Malawi’s departure, the total number of troops in the regional mission will be reduced to 4,000, down from the originally planned 5,000.

Malawi’s Minister of Information, Moses Kunkuyu, confirmed that both Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and SADC leadership were well aware of the planned withdrawal.

The move is intended to align with the ceasefire declaration by the M23 group, although sporadic fighting continues in some areas.