Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered the military to prepare for the withdrawal of troops from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
This decision comes after a ceasefire declaration by the warring parties, including the M23 rebels, who had seized the strategic city of Goma, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 peacekeepers, including three Malawians .
The Malawian troops are part of the Southern African regional bloc’s (SAMIDRC) mission to neutralize armed groups in eastern DR Congo.
The mission, authorized by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), involves a contingent of 5,000 troops, with South Africa contributing 2,900, while Malawi and Tanzania share the rest .
President Chakwera’s decision to withdraw Malawian troops is seen as a positive step towards promoting peace negotiations in the region.
The withdrawal is expected to pave the way for peaceful negotiations between the warring parties, ultimately leading to a lasting peace in eastern DR Congo