Crisis in DR Congo: M23 consents to help SADC troops leave

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces have been able to evacuate eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo with their guns and equipment thanks to the Alliance fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) uprising.

The Congolese army coalition, which also included hundreds of European mercenaries, Rwandan genocidal militias known as the FDLR, Congolese ethnic militias known as the Wazalendo, Burundian armed forces, and UN peacekeepers, included the South African-led SADC forces that surrendered after the rebels took Goma, the capital of DR Congo’s North Kivu Province, in January. Remaining members of the masterminds of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi established the FDLR, a terrorist group located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It intends to reenter Rwanda with force and carry out its homicidal program.

On Friday, March 28, SADC and AFC/M23 senior representatives met at the Serena Hotel in Goma and came to an agreement regarding the withdrawal of SADC forces. The agreement reached at the end of the meeting guarantees a ceasefire, an end to hostilities, and the unconditional removal of SAMIDRC forces from the city.

Among other things, all parties agreed that the rebels should let the SADC forces to leave with their guns and equipment right away, leaving all of the FARDC’s weapons and equipment behind.

The rebels will also organize the “freedom of movement in preparation for withdrawal in accordance with the principles agreed upon,” according to a statement issued by rebel spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka.

As mentioned, SADC will help with airport repairs so that its forces can leave safely and effectively.