Cape Town – South Africa is deploying over 2 900 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to aid in the fight against illegal armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
President Cyril Ramaphosa issued the deployment to fulfill South Africa’s international obligation to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the DRC.
The move is in response to the threat posed by Tutsi-led M23 rebels, who are endangering the North Kivu provincial capital, Goma.
The deployment is part of the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), initiated to restore peace and security in the region.
“The employment will cover the period from 15 December 2023 to 15 December 2024 and it was authorised in accordance with the provisions of section 201(2) (c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
“The budgeted expenditure to be incurred for the employment amounts to just over R2 billion. This expenditure will not impact provisions for the defence force’s regular maintenance and emergency repairs,” the Presidency said in a statement on Monday.
The SAMIDRC aims to address the unstable security situation in the eastern DRC caused by the resurgence of armed groups, contributing to lasting peace and stability in the region.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
