SADC troops to pull out as M23 rebels gain ground happymamay

South African leaders announced that they would withdraw their forces from the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they were helping the government to fight the rebel forces.

A decision was taken to start a “gradual withdrawal” during a virtual summit of the Southern Southern African Development Society, consisting of 16 members on Thursday.

The forces were sent two years ago to support the Congolese army, the Battle of the M23 rebel backed by Rwanda.

But at least 19 South African soldiers, Malawi and Tanzania were killed when M23 seized the main city of Guma in January.

SADC leaders said that although the forces will be withdrawn from Dr. Kongo, the bloc will continue to “support interventions aimed at bringing permanent peace.”

No withdrawal reason has been given.

SADC called for a diplomatic and political solution to the conflict.

The number of SADC forces in Dr. Congo, but 5,000 soldiers are to be sent.

South Africa, which leads the mission, was the deployment of 2,900 soldiers and the rest between Malawi and Tanzania.

This has been the SADC third emergency summit on Dr Congo in recent months.

The M23 continued to obtain a ground in the east of Dr. Congo, and last month, the second largest city in the region, Boukavo.

There were fears that could be escalated into a broader regional conflict.