Malawian president orders withdrawal of troops from Congo

Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered Defence Force Commander Paul Valentino Phiri to begin preparations for the withdrawal of Malawian troops from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Malawian troops are part of a Southern African Development Community mission to help the DRC government fight rebels in the east.

According to a statement, the president made the decision to honour the declaration of a ceasefire by the warring parties in the



DRC. It said the decision aims to pave the way for the planned negotiations towards a lasting peace that will bring stability to the Southern African Development Community region. 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also urged more efforts to end the crisis in the eastern DRC. During a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, Mr. Guterres described the situation in DRC as deeply concerning.