SA Must Withdraw From DRC

Cut Losses: SANDF Lacks Capability And Should Focus On Direct Threats, Says Expert

- Masoka Dube

The South African soldiers fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) should abort the mission and return home, according to experts. This follows news that 13 SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers were killed in fighting against M23 rebels backed by the Rwandan army.

SANDF combatants are part of the South African Development Community (SADC) peacekeeping mission team fighting against rebels trying to topple the DRC government.

SADC heads of state are trying to find a solution to the DRC crisis.

Helmoed-Romer Heitman, an independent security and defence analyst, said: "My view is that we should not have become involved.

The SANDF cannot do anything serious in the DRC and would even be stretched to do anything serious in Cabo Delgado, which is vastly more important to us."

Heitman said SA had allowed its military capability to decline so badly that it should get out of the DRC and keep out of everything that does not pose a direct risk or threat to SA.

"Cabo Delgado and the Mozambique Channel do pose a risk so we need to keep an eye on those and ideally return to the former as soon as we can with air support and resume patrols of the latter as soon as the navy can.