South African Troops Flee Congo As Rebels Capture Major Cities
Southern African leaders have decided to withdraw their military forces from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where they've been supporting government efforts against rebel fighters. The "phased withdrawal" decision was reached during a virtual summit of the 16-nation Southern African Development Community (Sadc) on Thursday. The troops were deployed two years ago to assist the Congolese army in its battle against the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels. However, the mission suffered a significant setback when at least 19 soldiers from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania were killed as M23 forces captured the strategic city of Goma in January. Despite the troop withdrawal, Sadc leaders affirmed their commitment to "support interventions aimed at bringing lasting peace" in the region. The announcement did not specify reasons for the withdrawal decision. The regional bloc emphasized the need for diplomatic and political solutions to resolve the […]