Dar es Salaam, Feb. 6 -- The Malawian troops are part of a contingent of soldiers from a southern African regional bloc deployed in DR Congo to help it tackle armed insurgents.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) extended the military mission late last year.

“President Chakwera has ordered the MDF (Malawi Defence Force) commander to begin preparations for the withdrawal of Malawian troops to honour the declaration of a ceasefire by the warring parties there and to pave way for their planned negotiations towards a lasting peace,” the statement said.

A rebel alliance, which includes M23 fighters, has declared a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons starting on Tuesday.

But M23 rebels seized control of the town of ...