DRC Restored to Full SADC Participation After Paying Arrears

Kinshasa, 14 August 2026 - The Democratic Republic of Congo has regained full rights to participate in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) after more than two years of suspension linked to unpaid financial contributions.

The decision was taken at a SADC ministerial meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 12 August, ahead of the regional bloc’s 46th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government. The DRC had been suspended since April 2024, restricting its participation in discussions and decisions on regional politics, security, economic affairs and cooperation.

The dispute was linked partly to costs associated with the SADC Mission in the DRC, whose troops from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi were deployed in North Kivu from late 2023 to early 2025 to fight M23. The mission was allocated about $200 million, with member states later raising concerns over Kinshasa’s failure to meet its financial obligations.

In August 2025, SADC warned the DRC to settle about $48 million in outstanding contributions or face sanctions. Kinshasa subsequently said it had cleared the arrears despite the country’s economic challenges.

The suspension had significant political consequences, including preventing President Félix Tshisekedi from addressing an extraordinary SADC summit in December 2025.

With its rights restored, the DRC can now fully participate in SADC discussions and decision-making, particularly on security developments in eastern Congo and regional economic cooperation.