SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) is an active regional peacekeeping mission operated by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Operation Thiba includes soldiers from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi. They will replace a United Nations force in the DRC for 25 years and a year-old East African Community deployment.

Background
In 2023, the escalating conflict between the Forces Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo (FARDC) or Congolese military and rebel groups displaced over 6.38 million people in the eastern provinces of the DRC.

The resurgent M23 rebel movement seized swathes of territory, and neither the United Nations peacekeeping mission nor the East African regional force could help the FARDC stop their advance.

In December 2023, Congo said SADC troops were mandated "to support the Congolese army in fighting and eradicating the M23 and other armed groups that continue to disrupt peace and security."

Troops from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawian started deploying in Sake and surrounding areas near Goma in December 2023.

Incidents and casualties

 * 15 February 2024: Two South African soldiers died and three sustained injuries in a mortar strike near the eastern city of Goma.
 * 1 March 2024: A soldier of the South African National Defence Force shot and killed his colleague with his service firearm before turning the gun on himself and killing himself : 2 casualties
 * 4 April 2024: A South African soldier died in hospital after a short illness.
 * 6 April 2024: Three Tanzanian soldiers died after a hostile mortar round had fallen near their camp.