Second group of SANDF soldiers withdrawn from DRC to return home Sunday
The first group of 249 soldiers, who were on a peacekeeping mission, arrived at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria on Friday.
The first group of SANDF soldiers deployed to the DRC arrive at Waterkloof Air Force Base outside Pretoria on 13 June 2025. Picture: SANDF
JOHANNESBURG - A second group of SANDF troops withdrawn from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are expected to return home on Sunday.
The first group of 249 soldiers, who were on a peacekeeping mission, arrived at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria on Friday.
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The troops' return follows a ceasefire agreement that was reached between the M23 rebel group and the DRC military during a summit in Tanzania three months ago.
SANDF spokesperson Prince Tshabalala said that all withdrawn personnel would undergo medical and psycho-social evaluation and would be given the necessary support.
Tshabalala said that the phased withdrawal process would be completed by the end of June.
"There's over 2,000 troops that are still remaining outside. What will happen now? As we already indicated that there'll be several trips, which in total I think is nine, which will then be able to take all the troops back home. More of these flights similar to the one that we have seen to be coming back home, so that we are able to finish the operation by end of the month."