The first group of troops arrived in the country on Friday night.

Around 2 000 troops from SA, Malawi and Tanzania were deployed in Goma under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) peacekeeping mission.

The deployment was aimed at supporting efforts to stabilise the region, which has seen increased violence and insecurity due to ongoing clashes between armed groups, particularly the M23 rebels.

The decision to withdraw the troops was taken at a joint summit of SADC and the East African Community, as part of a strategy to create space for renewed peace negotiations.

The deployment has come at a high cost. At least 19 soldiers from the three countries were killed in January when M23 rebels captured Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC. The incident raised serious concerns over the safety of peacekeepers and the volatility of the region.

Despite the withdrawal, some troops remain in the DRC as part of the logistical process and continued cooperation with Congolese authorities. The SA government has yet to confirm when all troops will be back on home soil.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--