Today's Labour News

BL Premium reports that leaders of the Southern African regional bloc have decided on a phased withdrawal of troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following a surge in fighting with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels that left more than a dozen SA soldiers dead.

It was advised on Thursday that the Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) also decided to terminate the mission, which began in December 2023, and directed the commencement of a phased withdrawal of the Sadc Mission in DRC (SamiDRC) troops. It noted “with grave concern the continued deterioration of the security situation in Eastern DRC, including the capture of Goma and Bukavu.” The leaders recognised that a military solution alone could not resolve the complex conflicts in the eastern DRC. Instead, they advocated for inclusive dialogue and negotiations, bringing together all parties, including the nonstate actors. Hundreds of SamiDRC troops, including South Africans, are being held by M23 rebels in DRC. Now that the SamiDRC mission has ended, efforts to rescue them will move forward. SA has about 1,000 additional troops in the DRC as part of a UN mission. Following the deaths of 14 SA soldiers in the region in January, there was increased pressure on the government to withdraw troops. Malawian and Tanzanian soldiers also died while serving under SamiDRC. For 2025/26, the Treasury allocated R5bn for the mission and to “supplement existing peacekeeping activities”.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thando Maeko at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
• Read too, SADC announces phased withdrawal of troops from eastern DRC, at Mail & Guardian

En ook, SAOG gaan troepe aan DRK onttrek, by Maroela Media

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