DRC: 'SA's on back foot'

PRESIDENTS' BATTLE: KAGAME HAS TAKEN THE STRONGER POSITION

- Brian Sokutu

While the South African government yesterday reiterated its commitment to finding a diplomatic solution to achieve a ceasefire in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), political and military experts said the killing of 13 SA soldiers had weakened SA's position in the ongoing crisis.

Analysts said Rwandan President Paul Kagame had been emboldened by the deaths and the taking over of the mineral-rich DRC town of Goma.

Kagame has taken an unprecedented swipe at President Cyril Ramaphosa, accusing him of lying about a conversation they had on the recent clashes in the DRC.

At the core of the Kagame-Ramaphosa spat is Kagame's stance that Ramaphosa privately admitted the SA soldiers were killed by DRC armed forces.