Africa-Press – Rwanda. The South African Parliament has questioned its defence organ over its mandate in eastern DR Congo, noting that it’s not on a peacekeeping mission and that clarifications should be made on what they are protecting in their area of deployment.
This was during a briefing on the security situation and status of the South Africa National Defence Force (SANDF) in eastern DR Congo by Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and the Chief of the South African National Defence Force, Gen. Rudzani Maphwanya, to the Parliament’s Portfolio Committee.
MP Mabel Rweqana said that they are made to believe that South African troops are in DR Congo for a peacekeeping mission, yet their soldiers die while engaging the enemy, noting that it’s not the first time.
“Our soldiers are being turned into a defence force of other countries instead of the peacekeeping mission that we are being told about.”
WATCH: South African Members of Parliament questioned the SANDF’s mission in the DR Congo during the Defence Committee briefing on Tuesday, February 4.
“Why is the president lying to us? It is not a peacekeeping mission; it is an offensive mission.” pic.twitter.com/nejepiO2ZK
— The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) February 4, 2025
The South Africa-led SADC mission in DR Congo suffered losses in the past two weeks, with 14 South African soldiers killed as M23 rebels advanced toward the strategic city of Goma before capturing it on January 27.
South Africa has over 1,500 troops in DR Congo under the SADC mission, fighting alongside the Congolese army (FARDC) coalition that also comprises Burundian forces, and militia groups such as the genocidal forces, FDLR, and Congolese Wazalendo militia, all against AFC/M23 rebels.
On January 29, President Cyril Ramaphosa referred to the SADC Mission in the DR Congo (SAMIDRC) as peacekeepers, something that President Paul Kagame debunked.
“SAMIDRC is not a peacekeeping force, and it has no place in this situation. It was authorized by SADC as a belligerent force engaging in offensive combat operations to help the DR Congo government fight against its own people, working alongside genocidal armed groups like FDLR which target Rwanda, while also threatening to take the war to Rwanda itself,” Kagame said.
Rweqana asked her country’s defence minister to explain what SANDF soldiers are protecting in eastern DR Congo that causes an army supposedly on a peacekeeping mission to start engaging in war.
“What are real things that you are supposed to do in keeping peace? Are you waiting for war to start and try to engage the enemy? You always claim that you don’t have the budget. You cry that you don’t have the budget but you have money and resources to go and protect and defend other countries instead of peacekeeping. This is not peacekeeping,” she said, calling for the government to think about the lives of soldiers.
On the other hand, MP Nicholas Gotsell said that there is a pending issue of assessing the legal opinion that was supposed to be made over a SANDF deployment letter to eastern DR Congo – something that was to be done before convening the parliamentary briefing meeting about the status of their troops in eastern DR Congo.
He noted that there are inconsistencies between two deployment letters that indicate SANDF mandate in eastern DR Congo, issued on different occasions.
He asked foreign minister Motshekga about her recent interviews where she indicated that the army had limited air support capacity and budget.
“Why was SANDF contingent deployed to DR Congo despite lacking effective air superiority and strategic bridge between South Africa and the operational area in Goma?” the lawmaker asked the minister.
For More News And Analysis About Rwanda Follow Africa-Press
