ADC Executive Secretary Assesses Progress of SAMIDRC in the DRC
His Excellency, Mr. Elias M. Magosi, the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), is currently undertaking an official visit to the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) to oversee and appreciate the advancements of the operation.
SAMIDRC was deployed on December 15th, 2023, with a mandate to support the DRC Government in restoring peace and security in the Eastern DRC.
The deployment is a response to the mandate issued during the Extraordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in Windhoek, Republic of Namibia, on May 8th, 2023.
The Summit approved the deployment of SAMIDRC as a regional response to address the escalating security situation in the Eastern DRC.
SAMIDRC operates under the principle of collective self-defense and collective action as outlined in the SADC Mutual Defence Pact (2003).
The pact states that any armed attack against one of the States Parties is considered a threat to regional peace and security and requires immediate collective action. SAMIDRC is a regional force comprising troops from the Republics of Malawi, South Africa, and the United Republic of Tanzania.
The mission holds an offensive mandate to support the DRC Government in neutralizing negative forces and illegal armed groups in the Eastern DRC, with the aim of restoring and maintaining peace and security. SAMIDRC can operate independently or in collaboration with the Congolese Army (FARDC).
During the visit, the Executive Secretary, accompanied by Major General Monwabisi Dyakopu, the Force Commander of SAMIDRC, inspected the troops in the field. The troops are reported to be well-equipped and ready to execute SAMIDRC’s mandate.
Expressing determination, Mr. Magosi stated that SADC is committed to restoring peace and security in the Eastern DRC, contributing to the organization’s achievements and milestones in Defence, Institutional, Socio-Economic, and Peace and Security sectors.
Following his visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Executive Secretary is scheduled to proceed to Mozambique to assess the progress of the SADC Mission in the Republic of Mozambique (SAMIM).
Source: SADC Secretariat
