By Chisomo Phiri
Diplomacy and International Relations expert Mphatso Kampeni, has raised concerns about Malawi’s involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) conflict, questioning the economic, military, and intelligence benefits the country gains from its participation.
The DRC, rich in minerals, has been plagued by a complex and multifaceted war, with various forces vying for control.
Malawi, as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), has deployed troops to the DRC, alongside Tanzania and South Africa.
However, Kampeni argues that these armies are “rubberstamping the SADC image” but are powerless and poorly equipped against the M23 rebels.
He has called on the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and President Lazarus Chakwera, as Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Army, to withdraw Malawian troops from the DRC and the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC).
Kampeni has warned that the DRC’s fate could be replicated in other SADC countries with extractive potential and weak central authorities, highlighting the need for caution.
He has also emphasized that Malawi cannot afford to lose its military personnel without a clear benefit to the country’s development.
Kampeni’s call for transparency and accountability from the authorities is timely, as both the African Union and SADC have been criticized for their inability to silence the guns in Africa.
If Malawi is indeed benefiting from its involvement in the DRC conflict, the government should provide clear explanations and justifications for its continued participation.
Malawi has been involved in peacekeeping missions in the DRC since 2005.
