The Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues its relentless fight against instability and insecurity in the eastern part of the country. The recent one-year extension of the mandate of the SAMIDRC mission, decided at the Extraordinary Meeting of the Summit of Heads of State and Government in Harare, Zimbabwe, demonstrates SADC’s continued commitment to lasting peace, stability and security in the DRC.
This decision comes in a context marked by a continued deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in the country. The Summit expressed its concern over this situation and reaffirmed SADC’s support to the Congolese Government in its efforts to establish peace and stability. This regional solidarity is also demonstrated through the commitment made in the SADC Mutual Defence Pact, which demonstrates the strong will of Member States to collectively protect the region against any external threat.
The SADC Heads of State and Government condemned the persistent violations of the ceasefire in force since August 2024, calling on all parties to fully respect their commitments to preserve regional peace and security. They stressed the need for enhanced coordination between regional, continental and international actors to achieve a peaceful and lasting resolution of the conflict in eastern DRC.
The intervention of the Zimbabwean President and current SADC Chairman, Emmerson Mnangagwa, underlines the importance of ensuring peace and development for the Congolese people. The SADC mission in the DRC, supported by MONUSCO, continues its efforts alongside the Congolese army to defend the territorial integrity of the country and to confront external aggressions, such as that perpetrated by Rwanda through the M23.
In conclusion, the extension of the mandate of the SAMIDRC mission demonstrates SADC’s unwavering commitment to the stabilization of the situation in the DRC. Regional and international cooperation remains essential to overcome the persistent security and humanitarian challenges in the region, and to enable the Congolese people to live in peace and prosperity.