Rwanda Grants Southern African Troop Passage Through Congo via Tanzania

Rwanda has agreed to allow troops deployed by the Southern Africa bloc to fight rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to evacuate from the rebel-held city of Goma through its territory to Tanzania.

The 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) said in mid-March it had terminated the mandate and would begin a phased withdrawal of its force, known as SAMIDRC, from Congo.

The three diplomats, with knowledge of the ongoing talks between Rwanda and SADC, confirmed that Rwanda had accepted a request for the force's troops to pass through the country by land.

Two of the diplomats added that they have been informed that the regional force's weapons will be sealed for security reasons but will leave Rwandan territory with the troops.