Tanzania, DRC call for withdrawal of forces

CAPION: Samia Suluhu Hassan, right, and Félix Tshisekedi, left, during a meeting Zanzibar Tuesday August 18th, 2026. (Courtesy photo). 

By Our reporter

ZANZIBAR — Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo have called for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Congolese territory and pledged deeper defence and security cooperation as Presidents Samia Suluhu Hassan and Félix Tshisekedi moved to strengthen a relationship forged partly through Tanzania’s military support to Kinshasa against the M23 rebellion.

The two leaders held private and bilateral talks at State House in Zanzibar on Tuesday, August 18, at the end of Tshisekedi’s two-day visit to Tanzania.

In a joint communiqué, the presidents reaffirmed their support for the “sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity” of the DRC and called for implementation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, “including the cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of foreign forces from Congolese territory.”

The language is significant as Kinshasa continues to accuse Rwanda of deploying troops in eastern Congo and supporting the M23 rebels, who have seized large areas of the mineral-rich region.

Rwanda has previously rejected accusations that it is responsible for the conflict and has raised concerns about armed groups operating from Congolese territory.

Samia and Tshisekedi also backed ongoing efforts to neutralise armed groups, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, or FDLR, and called for their disarmament and dissolution.

They expressed support for African Union-led initiatives as well as the Washington and Doha peace processes, calling for their “coherent, coordinated and timely implementation.”

The two countries further agreed to intensify cooperation against the illegal exploitation and trafficking of natural resources and strengthen bilateral defence and security cooperation through information-sharing and capacity building.

The security commitments build on Tanzania’s direct military involvement in supporting Tshisekedi’s government during the war against M23.

Tanzanian troops served alongside forces from South Africa and Malawi under the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC, or SAMIDRC, which was deployed to eastern Congo to support government forces against armed groups including M23.

The mission suffered casualties during intense fighting before SADC eventually withdrew its troops as diplomatic initiatives gained momentum.

In the communiqué, Samia and Tshisekedi said the relationship between their countries had been strengthened by Tanzania’s “support for the liberation of African peoples and its enduring contribution to peace, stability and development in the region.”

The talks also produced a broad economic agenda, with the two countries agreeing to establish a Strategic Partnership on Minerals, covering critical minerals, geological data, mineral processing, value addition and responsible investment.

Officials were directed to prepare a memorandum of understanding setting out priority actions.

The DRC also expressed interest in joining the African Minerals and Geosciences Centre, which is headquartered in Dar es Salaam.

Transport was another major focus. The two presidents committed to improving links along the Central Corridor through the ports of Dar es Salaam, Kigoma and Kalemie, lake transport, roads and the gradual interconnection of railway networks.

They also agreed to explore stronger energy cooperation in oil and gas exploration, transportation, storage and refining, electricity interconnection and renewable energy.

The communiqué said the two countries would explore possible synergies with existing regional infrastructure, including the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, or EACOP, and the Tanzania-Zambia crude oil pipeline, TAZAMA, where technically and economically feasible.

The leaders also welcomed progress on a proposed cross-border fibre-optic connection between Kigoma in Tanzania and Kalemie in the DRC.

On trade, the governments agreed to revive the Joint Permanent Commission as the main framework for bilateral cooperation and establish an annual ministerial-level economic and trade meeting to tackle non-tariff barriers, customs and transit constraints.

They also identified agriculture, livestock, fisheries, mining, energy, transport, logistics, technology, finance and tourism as priority areas for investment.

Samia meanwhile expressed Tanzania’s solidarity with the Congolese government and people following the Ebola outbreak and said Tanzania was ready to provide appropriate assistance.

Tshisekedi, whose visit began on Monday, invited Samia to make an official visit to the DRC at a mutually convenient date. She accepted the invitation.

The presidents said the Zanzibar talks had opened “a new chapter in the strategic partnership” between Tanzania and the DRC.