The Southern African Development Community (SADC) said on Thursday that a summit of regional heads of state had terminated the mandate of its troop deployment in the Democratic Republic of Congo and decided on a "phased withdrawal".

African leaders have announced the withdrawal of thousands of troops from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi, who were sent to fight insurgents in mineral-rich eastern Congo, where M23 rebels have killed peacekeepers while overrunning the region this year.

The SAMIDRC was sent to help the government of the DRC, a Southern African Development Community member, restore peace and security.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's defence minister said there was a need to "relook at" a Southern African mission in Democratic Republic of Congo, where troops from several countries including South Africa are deployed to help the country fight Rwanda-backed rebels.

African leaders announced a phased military withdrawal from eastern Congo, involving troops from South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi, deployed against insurgencies by M23 rebels. The decision follows increasing opposition and the deaths of peacekeepers.

Southern African leaders have announced they will pull their troops out of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where they have been helping the government fight rebel forces. The decision to start a "phased withdrawal" was made during a virtual summit of the 16-member Southern African Development Community (Sadc) on Thursday.