GOMA, DR Congo, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group signed an agreement on Friday with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to facilitate the withdrawal of the regional bloc's remaining military personnel stationed in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The signing ceremony took place in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, which is under M23 control. In attendance were Rudzani Maphwanya, chief of the South African National Defence Force, and Sultani Makenga, the rebel group's military coordinator.

Deployed in December 2023, the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) comprises troops from Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania, tasked with assisting the DRC armed forces (FARDC) in combating armed groups in the country's eastern region. However, the mission has suffered casualties, raising concerns over its effectiveness amid escalating violence. In March, SADC announced the termination of the deployment.

According to M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, the withdrawal will be carried out through Goma International Airport. A ceasefire was also proposed during the ceremony to ensure the successful departure of the troops.

"SADC will assist us in restoring Goma Airport to operational condition in the coming days," Kanyuka said. "Together, we will establish a joint team to assess the current state of the airport, which remains damaged at this stage."

The M23 has agreed to facilitate the immediate withdrawal of SADC troops along with their weapons and equipment, while SAMIDRC is required to return any FARDC-owned arms currently in its possession.

A follow-up meeting between SADC and the M23 is scheduled, though the date and location remain undetermined.

Since its resurgence in late 2021, the M23 has captured large swathes of territory in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

According to Bintou Keita, the UN Secretary-General's special representative in the DRC, the M23 rebels may expand into Tshopo and Maniema provinces after establishing parallel administrations in North and South Kivu.

On Thursday, she told the UN Security Council that the M23 has continued its westward offensive, reaching Walikale in North Kivu, the farthest west it has advanced since its rapid territorial gains in January. The rebels seized the town a week earlier, pushing to within 400 kilometers of Kisangani, the country's fourth-largest city and the capital of Tshopo province.

Eastern DRC remains a conflict hotspot due to its rich mineral wealth, with many armed groups vying for control of coltan, tin, tantalum and gold.

According to the United Nations, about one million people, including around 400,000 children, have been displaced since late January. The number is expected to rise as hostilities persist in North and South Kivu. Enditem

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