Cape Town – The repatriation of 14 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has faced delays, despite administrative processes being completed and handed over to the United Nations (UN).
SANDF Chief General Rudzani Maphwanya confirmed that the repatriation had been planned for Wednesday.
He said that the UN is managing the movement of the deceased from the conflict zone.
“All administrative processes were completed and handed over to the United Nations. The United Nations planned movement of the repatriation of the deceased out of the combat zone has been delayed,” SADF said in a brief statement on Thursday.
The SA National Defence Force Media Statement || Thursday, 06 February 2025.
Update on the Repatriation of the Deceased Members of the SA National Defence Force in the Republic of the Congo.#SANDF#DCCMediaLiaison#RIPSASoldiers#DRC pic.twitter.com/zvd4aApSir
— SA National Defence Force 🇿🇦 (@SANDF_ZA) February 6, 2025
The M23 rebels have called for a ceasefire amid ongoing fighting, which has resulted in hundreds of deaths in the region, exacerbated by decades of instability driven by ethnic tensions and resource conflicts.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
