Rwanda has agreed to facilitate the withdrawal of Southern African Development Community (SADC) troops deployed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), enabling their land passage to Tanzania via Rwandan territory, according to three diplomatic sources with direct knowledge of the matter.
The move comes following the SADC’s March 2025 announcement that it would commence a phased withdrawal of its military mission in the DRC. The SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), authorised in December 2023, was initially deployed to support Kinshasa’s ongoing efforts to counter armed insurgencies in the eastern provinces.
The diplomatic sources confirmed that Rwanda had accepted the regional bloc’s request to allow its military personnel to exit from the strategic but rebel-held city of Goma, which lies on Congo’s eastern frontier. The agreed evacuation route would see troops traverse Rwanda en route to Tanzania, a key logistical and troop-contributing partner in the SADC mission.
Two of the diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions, noted that while troops would be permitted safe passage, their weapons would be sealed to ensure security compliance during transit. All armaments are expected to leave Rwandan soil alongside the personnel.
No official statements have been released by either the SADC Secretariat or the governments of Rwanda and the DRC at the time of publication. Nevertheless, General Rudzani Maphwanya, Chief of the South African National Defence Force, confirmed during a Thursday interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation that a technical coordination team was stationed in Tanzania to finalise operational logistics related to the withdrawal.
SAMIDRC’s deployment followed increasing instability in the eastern DRC, which has long suffered from cyclical violence involving local militias and foreign-backed armed groups. Among these is the M23 rebel group, which has gained control over key areas including Goma since early 2025, escalating tensions in the already volatile region.
The conflict is inextricably linked to historical legacies, including the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the complex geopolitics surrounding eastern Congo’s abundant mineral wealth. Despite the multinational effort under SADC, the region remains beset by violence, displacement, and humanitarian crises.
The decision by Rwanda to allow safe transit may be seen as a pragmatic gesture amid broader diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions. However, the fragile security situation underscores the limitations of regional interventions without a cohesive political framework addressing root causes and accountability for all actors involved.
Rwanda’s role in eastern Congo remains controversial. While Kigali has consistently denied supporting the M23, multiple United Nations reports have implicated Rwandan forces in backing the group — a claim that Rwandan officials have strongly refuted. The DRC government has also previously accused Rwanda of territorial aggression, contributing to the deterioration of bilateral relations.
As the SADC mission winds down, attention is likely to shift toward the United Nations peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO), and the extent to which it and other international actors can stem the rising tide of violence in the region. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether troop withdrawals mark a new diplomatic phase or risk creating a further security vacuum.
