South African leaders have pledged to continue supporting peacekeeping operations in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the capture of the regional hub by Rwanda-backed rebels.
The decision was made at an extraordinary meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Harare, Zimbabwe. The group’s chairman, President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, emphasised the need for “bold” and “decisive steps” to strengthen the capacity of the regional peacekeeping force.

This move comes after the SADC military mission endured significant losses, with around a dozen soldiers from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania killed in recent clashes. The M23 rebels, who seized control of Goma, are threatening to escalate their offensive towards Kinshasa, the capital of Congo. In response, Congo’s President has called for a major military mobilisation to counter the growing threat.