More than 2,000 South African soldiers are fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the SADC Standby Force.
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- South Africa has 2,900 soldiers fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) standby force.
- Its introduction this year will cost R2 billion.
- The SADC Standby Force replaced the East African Community Regional Force. United Nations Stabilization Mission in DCR They will be leaving a war-torn country.
South Africa's 2,900-trooper force to be deployed to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is expected to cost “just over R2 billion”, according to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC). ) is on a year-long tour to try to stabilize the troubled region.
SAMIDRC is under the command of Major General Monwabisi Diakop of the SA National Defense Force (SANDF).
The Malawi army, the Tanzanian army, and the national army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are also stationed there.
The SAMIDRC deployment is in accordance with the principles of collective self-defense and collective action outlined in the SADC Mutual Defense Agreement, which states: Armed attacks are considered a threat to regional peace and security, and collective action must be taken immediately.
Diakop is on his fourth mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has also served in Ethiopia and Eritrea as a peacekeeper.
SANDF Commander-in-Chief President Cyril Ramaphosa defended the deployment of the force as “South Africa's international obligation” to SADC.
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“This employment covers the period from 15 December 2023 to 15 December 2024 and has been approved in accordance with the provisions of section 201(2)(c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
“The planned expenditure for employment amounts to just over R2 billion. This expenditure will not affect the Armed Forces' regular maintenance or emergency repair preparedness,” Prime Minister Ramaphosa said in a statement.
South Africa contributes troops to SADC mission to Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) In fulfilling South Africa's international obligations to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission to support the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the President @CyrilRamaphosa Ordered employment…
— #SONA2024 | Presidency ???? (@PresidencyZA) February 12, 2024
No casualties were reported by South Africans or SAMIDRC.
At France's request, the UN Security Council will hold closed-door consultations on the situation in the DRC on Tuesday.
The United Nations DCR Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) has been withdrawn from the DRC since December after the East African Community Regional Force also left the country at the request of the host country.
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However, MONUSCO remains in the country and is conducting Operation Springbok to ensure the safe movement of internally displaced persons due to the North Kivu conflict.
The force will also create humanitarian corridors to provide much-needed aid.
Rwanda has been accused of aiding and abetting the M23 rebel group to destabilize eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, a charge denied by Rwanda's longtime president, Paul Kagame.
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