Malawi Takes Troops Out of DR Congo.
Malawi's leader, Lazarus Chakwera, said the army must plan to leave DR Congo's war zone. His troops serve with other southern African forces there.
Last week, fighting near Goma city led to the deaths of 20 peacekeepers. Among them were 14 South Africans and three from Malawi. The M23 rebels took control of Goma, the main city in North Kivu.
Chakwera made this choice on Wednesday. He wants peace talks between the fighting groups. His order came as battles kept going.
The news came on state TV. Moses Kunkuyu, who speaks for Malawi's government, told the BBC that this choice helps peace. Leaders from southern Africa met in Tanzania last week and asked all sides to stop fighting.
The M23 rebels said they would stop attacks on Tuesday. But fights started again. The rebels took Nyabibwe, a mining town in South Kivu.
Many asked Chakwera to bring troops home after the peacekeepers died. South Africa faces the same calls, but its leader Cyril Ramaphosa said his forces would stay until the end of the year.
The southern African force started work in 2023. It has about 5,000 troops from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania. South Africa leads with 2,900 troops.
Leaders from East and South Africa plan to meet in Tanzania this Saturday. DR Congo's head, Felix Tshisekedi, and Rwanda's Paul Kagame might both attend.
Uganda said news of its troops going to east DR Congo was wrong.
The rebels want more land in South Kivu. They aim to take Bukavu city. Congo's leaders asked people to help guard the city.
M23 installed new leaders in North Kivu. Their chief, Corneille Nangaa, talked to crowds at Unity Stadium on Thursday. The main court wants to catch him for war crimes.
The UN said the rebels killed almost 3,000 people as they took Goma. Bad diseases might spread from the city.
The world's main crime court watches the acts in DR Congo with care.
Malawi's leader, Lazarus Chakwera, said the army must plan to leave DR Congo's war zone. His troops serve with other southern African forces there.
Last week, fighting near Goma city led to the deaths of 20 peacekeepers. Among them were 14 South Africans and three from Malawi. The M23 rebels took control of Goma, the main city in North Kivu.
Chakwera made this choice on Wednesday. He wants peace talks between the fighting groups. His order came as battles kept going.
The news came on state TV. Moses Kunkuyu, who speaks for Malawi's government, told the BBC that this choice helps peace. Leaders from southern Africa met in Tanzania last week and asked all sides to stop fighting.
The M23 rebels said they would stop attacks on Tuesday. But fights started again. The rebels took Nyabibwe, a mining town in South Kivu.
Many asked Chakwera to bring troops home after the peacekeepers died. South Africa faces the same calls, but its leader Cyril Ramaphosa said his forces would stay until the end of the year.
The southern African force started work in 2023. It has about 5,000 troops from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania. South Africa leads with 2,900 troops.
Leaders from East and South Africa plan to meet in Tanzania this Saturday. DR Congo's head, Felix Tshisekedi, and Rwanda's Paul Kagame might both attend.
Uganda said news of its troops going to east DR Congo was wrong.
The rebels want more land in South Kivu. They aim to take Bukavu city. Congo's leaders asked people to help guard the city.
M23 installed new leaders in North Kivu. Their chief, Corneille Nangaa, talked to crowds at Unity Stadium on Thursday. The main court wants to catch him for war crimes.
The UN said the rebels killed almost 3,000 people as they took Goma. Bad diseases might spread from the city.
The world's main crime court watches the acts in DR Congo with care.
