SADC to hold emergency summit on DRC crisis

                                                            SADC HQ in Gaborone, Botswana

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will convene an emergency summit on Friday in Harare, Zimbabwe, to address the escalating conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

                                                           SADC Executive Secretary, Elias Magosi

SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi confirmed that the 16-member regional bloc will discuss the deteriorating security situation, as the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized most of Goma, the regional capital.

The AFP news agency reports that the ongoing conflict has claimed the lives of 13 South African and three Malawian soldiers since last week. Most of the casualties were from the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), while at least two South African troops were part of a separate UN peacekeeping mission.

SADC’s security committee held virtual discussions on Tuesday, and their recommendations are expected to be considered at the Harare summit. Reports suggest that regional leaders may decide to withdraw their forces from the conflict zone.