AFRICAN leaders have announced that thousands of peacekeepers from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi will be withdrawn from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s war-torn east.

Deployed under the banner of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), the troops were sent to the mineral-rich region in 2023 to quell violence, but public opposition to the deployment has surged since 14 South African and three Malawian peacekeepers were killed by the Rwanda-back M23 militia in January.

The decision was announced on Thursday after a virtual meeting of the 16-member bloc, which took place the day after Angola said that it would host peace talks between the Congolese government and M23 next week.

No timetable was announced for the pullout of troops, who number up to 3,000, but the Sadc said in a statement that it would be a “phased withdrawal.”

South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola told national broadcaster SABC that other belligerents should also pull out. 

“All the forces that are not invited, non-invited parties, in that conflict must also withdraw and be engaged in a process of ceasefire,” he said.

Mr Lamola expressed confidence in the planned peace talks between the Congolese government and M23, which will be mediated by Angolan President Joao Lourenco.