South African troops begin withdrawal from DRC as SADC mission winds down
The South African Development Community Mission, known as SAMIDRC, was deployed in December 2023 to support the DRC government to restore peace and security in eastern DRC.
- 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa
- South African National Defence Force (SANDF)
- Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
SANDF army defence force soldiers
702's Bongani Bingwa is joined by Crystal Orderson.
Listen below
South African forces, along with troops from Malawi and Tanzania, have begun withdrawing from the towns of Goma and Sake in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This marks the official end of the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) military peacekeeping mission, which was launched in December 2023.
The phased withdrawal follows the recent capture of Goma by M23 rebels and forms part of a broader agreement within SADC to scale back military operations in the DRC amid growing concerns about escalating violence and limited progress on the ground.
"They are packing up and preparing to move in stages with all the equipment, by road, through Rwanda to Tanzania where the SANDF troops will then be flown to Bloemfontein."
Crystal Ordersen, Correspondent - The Africa Report
Ordersen says it's quite a risky process:
"The roads are not the best, but it's the best option given that Goma airport is inaccessible."
Crystal Ordersen, Correspondent - The Africa Report
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"It took some careful negotiations - Rwanda had to agree to let troops go via their country.
Crystal Ordersen, Correspondent - The Africa Report
Ordersen says as troops prepare to return home the time has come to ask some pressing questions:
"The soldiers risked their lives and the question now is, for what?"
Crystal Ordersen, Correspondent - The Africa Report
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