Malawi orders troops to prepare withdrawal from eastern Congo

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Malawi orders troops to prepare withdrawal from eastern Congo

7:49 CAT | 06 Feb 2025

FILE - President of Malawi Lazarus Chakwera addresses the "Summit of the Future" in the General Assembly Hall at United Nations Headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 22, 2024. [File photo: Reuters/David Dee Delgado]

Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered preparations for the withdrawal of Malawian troops from eastern DRC.

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels seized the town of Nyabibwe in South Kivu, despite declaring a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons.

The fall of Nyabibwe raises concerns about a renewed M23 push towards Bukavu.

Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered defence forces to begin preparations for a withdrawal of its troops from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a statement said on Wednesday.

The Malawi troops are part of a contingent of soldiers from the Southern African regional bloc deployed in Congo to help it tackle armed insurgents.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) extended the military mission late last year.

“President Chakwera has ordered the MDF (Malawi Defence Force) commander to begin preparations for the withdrawal of Malawian troops… to honour the declaration of a ceasefire by the warring parties there and to pave the way for their planned negotiations towards a lasting peace,” the statement said.

READ | ‘Defending the civilian population and our positions’: Rwanda-backed M23 announces ceasefire in DRC

A rebel alliance, which includes M23 fighters, has declared a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons starting on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Rwandan-backed M23 rebels seized control of the town of Nyabibwe in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s South Kivu province, eight sources said on Wednesday – an apparent violation of a unilateral ceasefire they declared this week.

The capture of Nyabibwe, some 70 km north of the provincial capital Bukavu, takes them a step closer to the city they said they had no intention of capturing after their advance southwards appeared to stall late last week.

Eight people, including local officials, a civil society representative, rebels and an international security source, confirmed Nyabibwe had fallen to the rebels.

“There have been clashes since 05:00, and it was at 09:00 that the town fell into the hands of the rebels. They’re in the centre of the town at the moment,” said the civil society leader, who, like the other sources, spoke on condition of anonymity.

Congo’s Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya told Reuters rebels had violated the ceasefire at night and were facing resistance from the armed forces around Nyabibwe.

M23 spokesperson did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

This advance could indicate a renewed push towards Bukavu that the M23 first launched after they seized Goma last week.

The capture of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s largest city has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and fanned fears of a wider regional war.

Congo accuses Rwanda of using the M23 to pillage valuable deposits of gold, coltan, tin and other minerals. Rwanda says it is acting in self-defence and to protect ethnic Tutsis.

Source: Reuters