DRC: SADC convenes emergency summit to tackle security crisis in DRC
In response to the worsening security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the losses suffered by regional forces, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) announced the holding of an extraordinary virtual summit on March 13, 2025. This summit, chaired by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, aims to review the region’s military strategy to address the crisis.
This meeting comes one week after the Troika Plus meeting, held on March 6 under the leadership of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. During that earlier gathering, leaders paid tribute to the South African, Malawian, and Tanzanian soldiers who had fallen in the course of the SADC Mission in DRC (SAMIDRC). President Hassan reaffirmed the SADC’s solidarity with the Congolese people, emphasizing the importance of unity and regional cooperation.
The March 13 summit will review the recommendations from the March 6 meeting and focus on revising the mandate of SAMIDRC. A report prepared by the defense subcommittee will be presented, proposing adjustments to strengthen the effectiveness of operations on the ground. This initiative is part of the SADC Mutual Defense Pact of 2003, which commits member states to work together to ensure regional peace and security.
The DRC, a member of SADC, is facing a persistent security crisis in the eastern part of the country, a region rich in resources but plagued by armed group activity for decades. Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, who attended the Troika Plus Summit, will also participate in the March 13 discussions to outline his country’s current challenges and needs.
This regional mobilization reflects SADC’s commitment to promoting stability and development in Southern Africa. It also underscores the importance of a collective response to transnational threats, in a context where the crisis in the DRC threatens the security of the entire Great Lakes region.
