MDF Silent on Malawian Troop Withdrawal from DRC
Published on March 4, 2025 at 8:31 AM by Evance Kapito
The Malawi Defense Force (MDF) has remained tight-lipped on the status of withdrawing Malawian troops from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following President Lazarus Chakwera’s directive issued early last month.
The president’s order came after a ceasefire declaration by warring parties in the conflict-ridden DRC, where three MDF soldiers deployed under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) peacekeeping mission were killed by M23 rebels.
Despite efforts over the past week to get an update from the MDF, there has been no official response regarding the withdrawal process.
Security expert Sherrif Kaisi has defended the MDF’s silence, arguing that security matters are highly sensitive and may require discretion. However, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) executive director, Michael Kaiyatsa, has urged the MDF to find a balance between national security and public information sharing, emphasizing the importance of keeping Malawians informed while maintaining operational confidentiality.
