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| DR Congo conflict: SADC troops to pull out as M23 rebels gain ground | DR Congo conflict: SADC troops to pull out as M23 rebels gain ground |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 14 South African troops have been killed in the fighting in DR Congo | At least 14 South African troops have been killed in the fighting in DR Congo |
| Southern African leaders have announced they will pull their troops out of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where they have been helping the government fight rebel forces. | Southern African leaders have announced they will pull their troops out of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where they have been helping the government fight rebel forces. |
| The decision to start a "phased withdrawal" was made during a virtual summit of the 16-member Southern African Development Community (Sadc) on Thursday. | The decision to start a "phased withdrawal" was made during a virtual summit of the 16-member Southern African Development Community (Sadc) on Thursday. |
| The troops were sent two years ago to support the Congolese army fight the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels. | The troops were sent two years ago to support the Congolese army fight the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels. |
| But at least 19 soldiers from South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania were killed when the M23 captured the key city of Goma in January. | But at least 19 soldiers from South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania were killed when the M23 captured the key city of Goma in January. |
| The Sadc leaders said that even though the troops will be pulled out of DR Congo, the bloc would continue to "support interventions aimed at bringing lasting peace". | The Sadc leaders said that even though the troops will be pulled out of DR Congo, the bloc would continue to "support interventions aimed at bringing lasting peace". |
| No reason was given for the withdrawal. | |
| Sadc called for a diplomatic and political solution to the conflict. | |
| It is unclear how many Sadc troops are in DR Congo, but 5,000 troops were due to be sent. | |
| South Africa, which leads the mission, was to deploy 2,900 troops and the rest shared between Malawi and Tanzania. | |
| This was Sadc's third emergency summit on DR Congo in recent months. | |
| The M23 has continued to gain ground in eastern DR Congo and last month seized the region's second biggest city, Bukavu. | The M23 has continued to gain ground in eastern DR Congo and last month seized the region's second biggest city, Bukavu. |
| There have been concerns this could escalate to a wider regional conflict. | |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| South Africa and Rwanda go head-to-head over DR Congo war | South Africa and Rwanda go head-to-head over DR Congo war |
| What's the fighting in DR Congo all about? | What's the fighting in DR Congo all about? |
| Is Trump mulling a minerals deal with conflict-hit DR Congo? | Is Trump mulling a minerals deal with conflict-hit DR Congo? |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |