At the SADC military headquarters in Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, soldiers from the Kinshasa government (FARDC) and the Wazalendo were found, which has been immediately regarded as a high-level conspiracy.
Around the end of March, AFC/M23 leaders held a discussion with representatives of the senior commanders of the SADC military.
During that conversation, AFC/M23 agreed to assist the SADC forces in the DRC to return to their countries, taking with them weapons and other military equipment but leaving behind the military equipment of the Congolese forces.
This came to a head after AFC/M23 accused the SADC forces of being involved in recent attacks in the city of Goma.
When M23 defeated those in the coalition of Congolese forces, over 15,000 sought refuge in SADC military camps located in the city of Goma.
It became necessary for M23 to confront them, which led to searches in those camps to remove those who were causing insecurity.
One of the soldiers on a SADC mission, who expressed frustration with the betrayal their forces continued to carry out against M23, stated that when M23 arrived at their camps, they found hundreds of Fardc soldiers and those from Wazalendo sheltered in those camps, aimed at preparing attacks against this group opposing the Kinshasa government.
These troops are reportedly getting involved in activities that undermine security in Eastern Congo, while on April 13, 2025, the leaders of the SADC forces decided to suspend the mission of this organization in the DRC, which had started in December 2023, requesting these troops to return in phases.
This also comes at a time when SADC had asked Rwanda to provide a route for its troops in Eastern Congo when they would be returning, a request that Rwanda accepted.
However, even though these SADC troops agreed to suspend their mission, there is no visible indication that they will leave the city of Goma soon, as they continue to collaborate with the Congolese coalition in activities undermining security in areas controlled by M23.
Furthermore, although SADC shows that it is aligned with AFC/M23 in leaving the DRC, on the other hand, it is reported that it is working with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, creating insecurity in the city of Goma as a means of regaining control.
It is reported that MONUSCO is sheltering Congolese troops in order to prepare for attacks on AFC/M23, a plan that may also involve FDLR and Wazalendo.
It is also mentioned that MONUSCO is hosting Congolese troops, with around 1,700 defeated troops and about 3,000 troops involved in the SAMIDRC mission currently in Goma.
