SANDF says withdrawal from DRC has started, but it’s ‘not a sign of weakness’

Defence Minister Angie Motshekga on Sunday said the withdrawal of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has begun.

She said the withdrawal comes as the region has seen “renewed momentum” towards achieving peace in the past four months.

SA troop withdrawal comes amid peace talks

Despite the withdrawal of its soldiers, Motshekga said, “South Africa remains committed to a peaceful, stable and prosperous DRC”.

The SANDF chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, reiterated that the withdrawal was taking place as peace talks continue in the DRC.

“We are withdrawing with the pride that there is an element of peace because M23 committed that there will be an element of peace. And therefore our withdrawal must be seen in the context that the political effort to have peace and stability in the DRC is now on the horizon,” he said.

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Maphwanya said the decision to withdraw came after a meeting between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC), which led to a ceasefire.

The SANDF chief said the talks allowed all the parties to decide they “cannot shoot our way through to peace, but let us allow mediation”.

SANDF withdrawal ‘not a sign of weakness’

Maphwanya said the withdrawal of troops is not a sign of weakness.

He said the M23 rebels and the DRC both committed to the ceasefire.

“This withdrawal is not accidental, and withdrawal is not a sign of weakness. It’s a position of the political effort to say that there is peace and stability in the eastern DRC, and therefore we are withdrawing with that pride to say there is an element of peace.” 

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Maphwanya said the SANDF troops will move by road to an assembly area in Tanzania before returning to South Africa. To do this, it was agreed with Rwanda that they would have to pass through their country.

“It had been negotiated and discussed by SADC leadership that it is a thoroughfare to our assembly area.”

He added that the withdrawal started on 29 April. While army personnel will return home by air, the equipment will have to be shipped.

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